if* 


*m 


The  First  New  York 
(Lincoln)  Cavalry 

From  April  19,  1861 
to  July  7,  1865  :  :  :  : 


BY 

William    H.    Beach,   A.  M. 

First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant 

Aid-de-Camp  to  Commander-in-Chief  G.  A.  R.  '95 
Teacher  of  History  and  Civics,  High  School,  Milwaukee 


Published  by 

THE    LINCOLN    CAVALRY    ASSOCIATION 

NEW    YORK 

1902 


Copyright,  1902 

by 
William  H.  Beach 


Burdick  &  Allen 
Printers 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 


PREFACE. 

THE  writing  of  the  records  of  the  first,  and  for  a  time 
the  only,  volunteer  cavalry  authorized  to  be  raised, 
was  undertaken  at  the  request  of  the  association  of  the  sur 
vivors  of  the  regiment,  expressed  in  a  formal  resolution. 
The  work  has  been  done  in  intervals  of  leisure  in  an  almost 
constant  occupation. 

The  material  has  been  taken  from  the  diary  of  the 
writer,  regularly  kept  during  the  entire  four  years;  from 
letters  written  home,  and  from  diaries  and  communications 
of  comrades.  For  the  details  of  related  events  all  avail 
able  authorities  have  been  freely  consulted. 

It  is  an  attempt  to  do  justice,  no  more  and  no  less,  to 
worthy  men  and  boys  who  promptly  responded  to  the  Presi 
dent's  first  call  for  volunteers,  or  who  rather  anticipated  a 
call  for  volunteer  cavalry. 

It  has  not  been  the  purpose  to  make  a  conventional  or 
pretentious  book.  The  purpose  has  been  to  represent  as 
nearly  as  possible  the  men  and  conditions  of  the  regiment  as 
they  actually  were,  and  to  narrate  events  as  they  actually 
took  place.  The  career  of  the  regiment  was  not  an  unbroken 
succession  of  brilliant  charges.  Nor  were  the  officers  and 
enlisted  men  all  knights  "without  fear  and  without 
reproach."  But  they  did  good  service  to  the  country,  and 
the  record  of  what  they  did,  though  imperfectly  made  up, 
deserves  to  be  preserved. 

The  minor  incidents  may  not  be  of  historical  import 
ance.  Some  of  them  are  given  as  showing  the  characters 
of  the  men,  and  the  nature  of  their  experiences. 

Acknowledgments  are  due  to  many  comrades  for  their 
assistance  and  encouragement,  and  especially  to  C.  T.  Will 
iamson  of  Company  F,  and  his  daughter,  Miss  Kate  B. 
Williamson,  for  a  vast  amount  of  work  in  copying  and 
compiling. 

There  are  undoubtedly  many  mistakes  and  important 
omissions.  A  few  blank  pages  are  inserted  at  the  end  of 
the  book,  on  which  comrades  can  correct  mistakes  and  make 
additional  entries. 


CONTENTS. 

Page 

CHAPTER  I. 
The  Beginning  of  the  War,       ...  I 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  Call  for  Cavalry,  9 

CHAPTER  III. 
Mustered  in,  19 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Elm  Park  and  Bellevue  Garden,        •  29 

CHAPTER  V. 
Company  C  at  the  Front— The  First  Fight,   -        -  34 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Off  for  Washington,    ...  38 

CHAPTER  VII. 
In  and  Around  Washington,     •        •  44 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Camp  Kearney,     ......  64 

CHAPTER  IX. 
The  First  Advance,    -  84 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  Peninsula,  98 

CHAPTER  XL 
Before  Richmond,  n'8 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Beaver  Dam  to  Malvern  Hill,  129 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Harrison's  Landing,     •  153 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Fredericksburg, 162 

CHAPTER  XV. 
In  Maryland, •        •        •        167 


vi  CONTENTS. 

Page 
CHAPTER  XVI. 

Among  the  Mountains, 177 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
North  Mountain  Station,  198 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Winchester, 205 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Berryville, 215 

CHAPTER  XX. 
The  Gettysburg  Campaign :   Fighting  with  the  Advance 

of  Lee's  Army, .        •       231 

CHAPTER  XXI 
The   Gettysburg  Campaign :     The   Wagon    Train    and 

Captain  Boyd, 246 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Gettysburg:  West  of  Lee's  Army, 254 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Gettysburg:    East  of  Lee's  Army, 267 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Shepherdstown  Ford  :  Martinsburg, 272 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Charlestown, 286 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
The  Fifteen  Days'  Scout, 295 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Charlestown— Various  Scouts,  •• 303 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
On  Veteran  Furlough, •  312 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Advancing  with  Sigel, 31? 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

New  Market  Gap, 322 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Charles  R.  Peterson's  Prison  Diary,  ...  331 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
New  Market, 343 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
Up  the  Valley:  Piedmont, 353 


CONTENTS.  vii 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
Lynchburg, 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 
The  Retreat  Across  the  Mountains,      .  .        .        .        377 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
East  of  the  Blue  Ridge,     ........ 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
The  Lower  Valley,      ......... 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
The  Pursuit  of  McCausland,   ....... 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
The  Lower  Valley       ......... 

CHAPTER  XL. 
Winchester,  .......... 

CHAPTER  XLI. 
Fisher's  Hill  to  Front  Royal,    .......       40  j 

CHAPTER  XLII. 
The  Front  Royal  Road,     ........       4^7 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 
Winter  Camp—  Retrospects  and  Prospects,  ....       456 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 
To  Grant's  Army,       .......       ..  ,7^ 

CHAPTER  XLV. 
The  Last  Raid  up  the  Valley,         ......       479 

CHAPTER  XLVI. 
The  Fall  of  Richmond  .........       484 

CHAPTER  XLVIL 
Appomattox:  The  Death  of  Lincoln,  ....       494 

CHAPTER  XLVIII. 
Annandale,    ........        .        .        . 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 
Mustered  out,       •        .        .        .......       524 


LINCOLN    IN    FEBRUARY,     i860,    AT    THE    TIME    OF    THE    COOPER    INSTITUTE 

SPEECH. 

From  photograph  by  Brady.  The  debate  with  Douglas  in  1858  had  given  Lincoln  a 
national  reputation,  and  the  following  year  he  received  many  invitations  to  lecture.  One 
came  from  a  young  men's  Republican  club  in  New  York.  Lincoln  consented,  and  in  Feb 
ruary,  1860  (about  three  months  before  his  nomination  for  the  presidency),  delivered  what  is 
known,  from  the  hall  in  which  it  was  delivered,  as  the  "Cooper  Institute  speech."  While  in 
New  York  he  was  taken  by  the  committee  of  entertainment  to  Brady's  gallery,  and  sat  for 
the  portrait  reproduced  above.  It  was  a  frequent  remark  with  Lincoln  that  this  portrait  and 
the  Cooper  Institute  speech  made  him  President. 


The  Lincoln  Cavalry. 


CHAPTER  I. 
THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR. 

SEVERAL  thousand  militia,  well-drilled  and  impa 
tient  to  fight,  had  been  brought  together  at  Charles 
ton.  South  Carolina,  claiming  to  have  seceded  from 
the  Union,  demanded  the  possession  of  Fort  Sumter.  Major 
Anderson  with  a  garrison  of  eighty-four  men  represented 
the  authority  of  the  national  government.  Virginia  had 
not  seceded.  A  large  part  of  the  people  of  that  state  were 
loyal.  A  leader  of  the  secession  movement  had  said, — 
"We  must  sprinkle  blood  in  the  faces  of  the  people." 

For  thirty-four  hours  had  the  little  garrison  in  Fort 
Sumter  been  subjected  to  a  terrific  bombardment.  From 
nineteen  batteries  more  than  three  thousand  shells  and  solid 
shot  had  been  hurled  at  the  fort.  The  afternoon  of  Sun 
day,  April  14,  according  to  terms  that  had  been  granted 
him,  Major  Anderson  taking  with  him  his  arms  and  his 
flag  which  he  saluted  with  fifty  guns,  evacuated  the  fort, 
and  embarking  on  the  relief  squadron,  sailed  for  the  North. 
The  inevitable  crisis  had  come. 

The  morning  of  Monday,  April  15,  President  Lin 
coln  issued  his  proclamation  calling  for  seventy-five  thou 
sand  militia,  and  appealing  to  all  loyal  citizens  "to  aid  this 


2  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  the  integrity,  and  the.  exist 
ence  of  our  National  Union,  and  the  perpetuity  of  popular 
government;  and  to  redress  wrongs  already  long  enough 
endured." 

The  heartiness  of  the  response  was  proof  that  the  ex 
amples  and  traditions  of  the  fathers  of  the  Republic  had 
not  been  forgotten.  In  every  city,  village  and  hamlet  of 
the  North,  young  men,  elderly  men  and  boys  came  for 
ward  and  enrolled  themselves  in  military  organizations. 

The  militia  were  quickly  on  their  way  toward  the  cap 
ital.  But  sympathizers  with  secession  in  Maryland  cut  the 
telegraph  wires  and  obstructed  the  railroads.  For  a  few 
days  Washington  was  cut  off  from  all  communication  with 
the  North.  The  city  was  full  of  secessionists,  but  the  loyal 
residents,  visitors,  and  applicants  for  office  waiting  for  their 
appointments,  were  vigilant.  From  among  these  were  or 
ganized  the  Clay  Battalion,  by  Cassius  M.  Clay,  and  the 
Frontier  Guards  by  Senator  Lane,  of  Indiana.  These 
were  armed  for  the  defence  of  the  public  buildings  in  case 
of  emergency.  General  Charles  P.  Stone  quietly  but  effi 
ciently  had  been  organizing  some  militia  companies. 

The  anxiety  of  Mr.  Lincoln  must  have  been  intense, 
but  his  self-possession  was  remarkable.  Once,  after  some 
busy  hours  with  his  private  secretaries,  he  rose  from  his 
desk  and  walked  slowly  to  the  window,  saying  to  himself, 
unconscious  that  anyone  heard  him, — "Why  don't  they 
come?  Why  don't  they  come?"  But  soon  came  the 
Washington  Artillery  from  Reading,  Pa.,  and  other  com 
panies  from  that  state.  Then  came  the  Sixth  Massachu 
setts,  and  the  news  of  the  loyal  uprising  all  over  the  North. 
The  immense  meetings  in  the  great  cities  were  character 
ized  by  the  greatest  enthusiasm  and  the  most  intense  earn 
estness. 

As  one  of  a  thousand  similar  instances  we  mention  the 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR.  3 

City  of  Auburn,    N.    Y.,    the   home   of    Senator   Wm.  H. 
Seward. 

Mr.  Seward  had  been  Mr.  Lincoln's  most  formidable 
competitor  for  the  presidential  nomination.  While  the 
Chicago  convention  was  balloting  for  its  candidate  the 
population  of  Auburn  was  in  the?  streets.  On  the  first 
ballot  Mr.  Seward  was  in  the  lead  with  Mr.  Lincoln  second. 
On  the  second  ballot  each  had  gained  at  the  expense  of  the 
other  candidates,  and  the  telegraph  announced  that  Mr. 
Seward  would  be  nominated  on  the  next  ballot.  All  the 
people  of  Auburn  held  Mr.  Seward  in  high  honor,  and  now 
they  were  waiting  in  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement,  with 
cannon  and  cartridges  in  readiness  to  fire  a  "presidential 
salute"  of  one  hundred  guns.  In  various  places  in  the  city 
they  had  collected  material  for  immense  bonfires  for  a 
night  celebration.  With  eager  expectation  they  waited  to 
hear  the  result  of  the  third  ballot.  Soon  the  clicking  of  the 
telegraph  announced  that  the  ballot  had  been  taken  and  the 
nominee  was, — Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois.  Without  a 
cheer  they  sullenly  wheeled  their  cannon  back  to  the  armory. 
That  afternoon  was  like  a  Sunday  in  Auburn.  No  busi 
ness  was  done.  In  their  grievous  disappointment  men  did 
not  feel  like  talking.  The  darkness  of  the  night  was  not 
relieved  by  any  bonfires.  Mr.  Seward  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  day  of  the  nomination  invited  a  number  of  his  friends 
to  his  house,  and  after  a  light  lunch  spoke  freely  of  his  and 
their  disappointment,  but  expressed  his  belief  that  in  the 
condition  of  the  country  and  in  the  probability  of  a  conflict 
.over  the  slavery  question,  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  probably  the  best  that  could  have  been  made.  He  pro 
posed  to  do  all  he  could  to  insure  Mr.  Lincoln's  election 
and  to  support  him  if  elected,  and  he  urged  his  friends  to 
do  the  same.  In  the  campaign  that  followed  Mr.  Seward 
made  some  of  his  ablest  speeches.  The  evening  before  the 


4  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

election  he  made  his  final  and  greatest  speech  to  his  own 
neighbors,  whose  enthusiasm  attested  their  devotion  to  the 
statesman  and  patriot  who  could  forget  his  own  disappoint 
ment  in  his  zeal  to  serve  the  best  interests  of  his  country. 
And  now,  in  April,  1861,  these  neighbors  of  Mr. 
Seward  answered  the  call  of  the  President  with  the  utmost 
promptness.  The  Sunday  following  the  issue  of  the  proc 
lamation  was  a  memorable  one.  The  professors  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  assisted  the  pastors  of  the  churches 
in  the  services  of  the  day.  Some  of  them  venerable,  with 
hoary  heads,  descended  from  New  England  ancestry, 
seemed  young  again  in  the  fervor  of  their  loyalty.  The 
appeals  of  these  ministers  thrilled  the  hearts  of  the  listeners. 
One  of  them,  recognizing  the  duty  of  fighting  now  as  well 
as  in  the  times  of  David,  the  warrior  king,  prayed  fervently 
for  the  Lieutenant  General  of  the  United  States.  "Thou 
hast  given  him  victory  in  times  past ;  grant  him  victory  now 
in  the  cause  of  the  Union."  In  the  Catholic  church  the 
priest  had  an  enrollment  paper  already  prepared.  He  ap 
pealed  to  the  men  of  his  congregation  to  sign  their  names 
before  leaving  the  church.  He  reminded  them  of  the  op 
pression  they  had  endured  in  their  native  land,  and  of  the 
freedom  they  had  enjoyed  in  this  home  of  their  adoption, 
telling  them  they  were  not  worthy  of  their  privileges  under 
this  free  government  unless  they  were  willing  to  fight  in 
maintaining  it.  As  he  pronounced  the  benediction,  stalwart 
men,  enough  to  form  a  company,  stepped  forward  to  the 
altar  and  were  enrolled.  In  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church  the  first  lesson  in  the  morning  service  was  from  Joel 
III.,  9,  10, — "Proclaim  ye  this  among  the  Gentiles;  Pre 
pare  war,  wake  up  the  mighty  men,  let  all  the  men  of  war 
draw  near;  let  them  come  up.  Beat  your  plowshares  into 
swords  and  your  pruning  hooks  into  spears;  let  the  weak 
say,  I  am  strong."  This  passage  from  the  Prophet  occur- 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR.  5 

ring  in  the  lesson  of  the  day  was  regarded  as  a  significant 
coincidence,  pointing  to  the  duty  of  the  hour. 

Public  meetings  were  held  at  which  liberal  contribu 
tions  were  made  for  the  equipment  of  the  volunteers  and 
for  the  support  of  families  that  might  be  left  in  need.  Dur 
ing  the  period  of  uncertainty  there  had  been  varying  opin 
ions  and  much  discussion. 

A  young  lawyer  in  Auburn,  a  man  of  some  ability, 
but  no  principle,  had  noisily  declaimed  against  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  the  government  to  restrain  by  force  the  seced 
ing  states.  But  when  he  saw  the  unanimity  of  feeling  in 
the  opposite  direction  he  took  advantage  of  a  subsequent 
meeting  to  have  himself  called  for,  and  entirely  ignoring 
his  previous  utterances,  harangued  the  people  in  a  painful 
effort  to  make  himself  one  of  them. 

In  Wisconsin  was  an  honest  and  well-to-do  business 
man,  whose  sympathies  had  not  been  anti-slavery,  but  were 
with  the  South.  He  had  been  in  favor  of  the  enforcement 
of  the  fugitive  slave  law.  Some  fugitive  slaves  were  in 
town,  cared  for  and  concealed  by  friends.  Their  master 
was  also  in  town  hunting  for  them.  A  friend  of  the  slaves 
went  frankly  to  this  sympathiser  with  the  South,  telling 
him  that  there  wrere  runaway  slaves  in  town  and  their 
master  was  there  looking  for  them.  "We  want  to  get  them 
away;  can  you  help  us  any?"  Without  a  word  he  took  out 
his  pocketbook  and  handed  out  a  ten  dollar  bill. 

He  was  shrewd  in  business,  but  was  not  learned  in  the 
technical  language  of  the  professions.  He  had  heard  the 
peace  men  of  his  party  argue  against  "coercion."  In  a 
warm  discussion  upon  the  President's  call  for  men,  he  still 
stoutly  contended  that  we  should  not  resort  to  "coercion." 
He  was  asked,  "Mr.  B,  what  zvould  you  do  with  the  seced 
ing  states?"  "What  would  I  do?  I'd  whip  them  back  in 
to  the  Union !" 


6  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

There  were  great  differences  in  opinion  as  to  the  nature 
and  duration  of  the  struggle  that  was  to  come.  Some 
thought  that  a  show  of  authority  on  the  part  of  the  govern 
ment  would  effect  the  disbanding  of  the  forces  that  had 
been  raised  in  the  South  and  that  the  whole  affair  would 
be  over  in  ninety,  perhaps  in  thirty  days.  President  Lin 
coln  made  no  predictions  publicly.  But  to  a  young  friend 
he  said  privately,  "We  shall  beat  them,  my  boy,  we  shall 
beat  them." 

Most  men  in  his  position  would  have  called  congress  to 
meet  in  extra  session  at  once.  He  named  the  time  nearly 
three  months  in  the  future.  This  would  give  time  for  the 
people  to  form  definite  opinions.  He  never  lost  his  faith  in 
the  people,  if  only  the  time  were  given  for  frothy  fermenta 
tion  to  work  itself  off  and  public  opinion  to  crystallize  about 
the  axial  principles  involved. 

A  brief  retrospect  will  help  one  to  understand  the  situa 
tion  and  the  character  of  the  marvelous  man  who  was  to 
guide  the  affairs  of  the  nation. 

The  presidential  campaign  of  1860  was  conducted  with 
more  than  ordinary  earnestness.  The  lines  had  been 
clearly  drawn.  There  were  to  be  no  more  tem 
porary  compromises  over  the  vexing  question  of  slavery. 
Compromises  had  served  their  purpose.  Party  leaders  and 
party  followers  were  guided  by  settled  convictions,  and  the 
only  remaining  thing  to  do  was  to  "meet  at  Philippi." 
There  were  those  who  forsaw  the  coming  crisis,  and  were 
preparing  to  meet  it. 

Lincoln  had  made  a  brief  and  happy  response  to  the 
delegation  from  the  Chicago  convention  that  had  come  to 
inform  him  of  his  nomination.  He  had  published  his  letter 
of  acceptance  pledging  himself  to  support  the  principles  of 
the  party  that  had  chosen  him  as  its  standard  bearer.  Fur 
ther  than  this  he  had  made  no  public  utterances.  While  at 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR.  7 

all  times  accessible  to  his  friends  he  remained  quietly  at  his 
home.  Once  indeed  on  the  occasion  of  an  immense  out 
door  mass  meeting  at  Springfield  he  was  compelled  to  ap 
pear  before  the  assembled  thousands.  His  presence  ex 
cited  uncontrollable  enthusiasm.  Briefly  expressing  his 
pleasure  at  seeing  so  many  of  his  friends  he  endeavored 
quietly  to  withdraw.  But  it  was  with  the  greatest  diffi 
culty,  aided  by  strong  friendly  hands,  that  he  escaped 
through  the  cheering,  surging  multitudes. 

One  of  the  opposing  candidates  traversed  the  entire 
country  endeavoring  to  persuade  the  people  to  a  policy 
which  he  claimed  was  the  only  one  that  promised  the  peace 
and  safety  of  the  Union.  The  other  party  leaders  appeared 
more  or  less  in  public,  but  Lincoln  remained  silent.  His 
opinions,  carefully  considered  and  candidly  stated,  had  be 
come  the  well  understood  principles  of  his  supporters. 
There  were  those  who  cherished  serious  apprehensions,  but 
with  these  there  was  a  purpose  to  stand  by  what  was  be 
lieved  to  be  right. 

The  election  over,  Lincoln  received  the  congratulations 
of  his  friends,  but  refrained  from  saying  anything  of  a  pub 
lic  character.  The  government  was  to  remain  yet  four 
months  in  the  hands  of  the  outgoing  administration.  By 
December  20,  South  Carolina,  by  the  action  of  a  conven 
tion  called  for  the  purpose,  seceded.  Before  the  result  of 
the  presidential  election  had  been  formally  announced,  other 
southern  states  had  followed  the  example  of  South  Caro 
lina.  These  acts  of  secession  were  boldly  proclaimed  and 
approved  by  the  southern  representatives  in  congress.  Dis 
loyal  members  of  the  cabinet  had  planned  for  this  move 
ment.  Government  arms  had  been  transferred  to  southern 
states.  Ships  of  the  navy  had  been  sent  beyond  the  im 
mediate  call  of  the  government.  The  President  was  per 
plexed.  He  denied  the  right  of  secession,  but  could  find  in 


8  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  constitution  no  power  to  prevent  it.  There  were  dis 
graceful  scenes  in  congress.  People  began  to  wonder  if  Mr. 
Lincoln  fully  comprehended  the  seriousness  of  the  situa 
tion.  Fearful  ones  urged  him  to  speak — to  give  some  as 
surance  that  he  would  so  act  as  to  insure  safety  and  peace. 
Business  interests  were  disturbed — almost  paralyzed, — by 
the  uncertainty.  Still  he  kept  silent.  His  few  words  of 
farewell  to  his  friends  and  neighbors  as  he  was  leaving  his 
home  for  Washington,  were  telegraphed  over  the  country 
and  convinced  all  that  he  understood  the  magnitude  of  the 
work  before  him.  Then  followed  the  succession  of  remark 
able  speeches  on  his  way  to  Washington.  An  anxious  na 
tion  watched  his  every  word  and  motion.  The  inaugura 
tion  came.  There  was  no  uncertainty  of  purpose  in  the 
inaugural  address.  Though  subjected  to  the  severest  or 
deals  he  had  thus  far  maintained  his  self-possession.  He 
asserted  that  the  Union  was  intended  to  be  perpetual.  He 
would  not  assail  the  South,  but  he  would  defend  and  main 
tain  the  Union.  In  this  he  had  no  choice.  His  duty  was 
prescribed  in  the  constitution.  Insurgent  forces  were  being 
raised  in  the  seceding  states.  There  was  impatience  at  the 
delay  of  the  government  to  act.  But  Lincoln  bided  his 
time.  The  days  for  concessions  and  compromises  were 
past. 


GENERAL  CARL  SCHURZ. 


COLONEL  A.   T.  MCREYNOLDS. 


LIEUT.   COL.   FREDERICK  VON  SCHICKFUSS.  MAJOR 


CHAPTER  II. 
THE  CALL  FOR  CAVALRY. 

THE  President's  call  for  75,000  men  was  issued  April 
1 5th.     The  next  morning  the  New  York  Tribune 
contained  the  following: 

WANTED :     A  Captain  of  Cavalry. 

The  Cavalry  department  of  the  Northern  army  is,  without  a 
doubt,  the  one  most  lacking  in  efficiency.  To  supply  this  flagrant  need 
is  the  desire  of  several  gentlemen  of  this  city,  two  of  whom  have  in 
their  handsomest  manner  offered  to  supply  horses  and  equipments  for 
the  first  fifty  volunteers  who  shall  be  unable  to  mount  and  equip 
themselves.  All  that  is  needed  now  to  effect  an  organization  is  a  com 
petent  leader,  and  to  any  one  sufficiently  well  versed  in  tactics  to  com 
mand  such  a  troop,  a  superb  horse,  half  brother  of  the  celebrated 
Patchen,  and  a  full  suit  of  regimentals  will  be  guaranteed.  Those 
desirous  of  joining  will  please  call  upon  G.  W.  Richardson,  21  Maiden 
Lane. 

So  many  responded  to  this  call  that  it  was  decided  to 
publish  a  notice  of  a  meeting  to  be  held  on  the  evening  of  the 
1 9th,  at  765  Broadway.  At  this  meeting  one  hundred  and 
fifty  were  present.  Mr.  Richardson  was  chairman  of  this 
meeting  and  Ezra  H.  Bailey  secretary.  Mr.  Bailey  was  a 
young  man  of  much  ability,  quick  to  think  and  act,  always 
speaking  to  the  point  in  few  words,  prepossessing  in  appear 
ance  and  agreeable  in  manners,  always  self-possessed  and 
never  losing  heart.  In  the  organization  of  the  regiment 
and  through  the  war  he  was  efficient  and  reliable.  Rich- 


10  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ardson,  Bailey  and  H.  B.  Todd  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  take  general  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  organization. 
Generous  friends  were  found.  Mr.  De  Forest,  proprietor 
of  "Palace  Garden",  offered  the  free  use  of  his  hall.  This 
hall  was  made  headquarters  and  recruiting  was  begun.  Men 
connected  with  wealthy  and  prominent  families  were  active 
in  the  movement.  Men  who  had  seen  active  service  in  the 
armies  of  the  United  States  or  of  Europe  were  anxious  to 
serve  again.  The  success  in  recruiting  was  such  that  it  was 
deemed  practicable  to  form  four  companies.  Canvassing 
for  the  offices  became  active.  The  American  tendency  to 
push  to  the  front  manifested  itself,  and  some  disappointed 
aspirants  for  office  withdrew. 

So  far  the  movement  had  been  without  authority  or 
encouragement  from  the  government  at  Washington.  Ex 
penses  had  been  met  by  voluntary  contributions.  The  offi 
cers  elected  now  took  steps  to  secure  acceptance.  For  this 
purpose  Bayard  Clark,  formerly  a  colonel  in  the  U.  S.  Cav 
alry,  and  later  a  member  of  Congress,  went  to  Washington 
in  behalf  of  the  organization,  but  met  \vith  no  encourage 
ment.  Others  were  sent  on  the  same  mission  with  no  better 
success.  The  administration  was  new.  Some  of  the  de 
partments  under  the  late  administration  had  been  in  con 
fusion,  if  not  quite  paralyzed.  The  secretary  of  war  was 
not  a  military  man,  only  a  politician.  It  took  time  to  bring 
about  a  condition  of  order,  and  find  the  right  man  for  each 
kind  of  work.  The  President  had  many  vexing  questions 
waiting  for  his  decision.  He  had  petitions  for  office  in 
numerable.  He  was  obliged  to  assume  responsibilities  of 
the  gravest  character.  A  prominent  citizen  who  went  to 
see  him  on  a  special  errand  said  that  he  seemed  like  a  man 
worn  out  with  anxiety  and  want  of  rest,  as  one  who  had 
watched  day  and  night  for  weeks  by  the  bedside  of  a  sick 


THE  CALL  FOR  CAVALRY.  11 

friend.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  a  matter  of  accept 
ance  of  a  voluntary  military  organization  did  not  receive 
special  attention.  While  regiments  of  infantry  wer£  being 
raised  all  through  the  North,  there  were  many  young  men, 
farmers'  sons  and  others,  who  had  been  used  to  riding 
horses  and  "breaking  colts,"  who  had  a  strong  desire  to 
know  something  of  the  dash  and  excitement  of  the  cavalry 
service.  And  now  many  wrote,  and  some  came  from  a  dis 
tance  to  make  inquiries,  and,  if  possible,  to  join  one  of  these 
cavalry  companies.  It  was  understood  that  only  those 
would  be  accepted  who  could  furnish  their  own  horses  and 
equipments. 

In  some  places  there  had  been  mounted  companies  in 
the  uniformed  militia,  and  efforts  were  made  to  organize 
these  for  the  volunteer  service.  The  75,000  men  first  called 
for  were  from  the  militia  of  the  several  states,  and  these 
were  to  serve  for  the  period  of  three  months. 

This  was  the  limit  of  the  time  for  which  the  militia 
of  the  states  could  be  called  into  service  of  the  General  Gov 
ernment.  It  was  supposed  by  many  that  the  designated 
term  of  service  indicated  a  belief  on  the  part  of  the  author 
ities  that  the  rebellion  could  be  suppressed  within  that  time. 
In  reply  to  those  who  asked  for  authority  to  raise  cavalry 
regiments,  General  Scott  had  expressed  the  hope  that  the 
war  would  be  over  before  a  cavalry  regiment  could  be  equip 
ped  and  properly  drilled.  Another  objection  was  the  great 
expense  of  raising  and  supporting  cavalry.  Furthermore, 
his  plan  for  putting  down  the  rebellion  would  not  require 
cavalry. 

But  the  President,  closely  watching  the  course  of  events 
and  discerning  clearly  the  spirit  of  the  leaders  of  the  seces 
sion,  soon  called  for  additional  forces  of  volunteers  for  three 
years,  or  during  the  war,  and  of  this  force  one  regiment 
was  to  be  of  cavalry.  This  regiment  was  to  be  made  up 


12  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  volunteers  from  all  the  states,  as  shown  by  the  following 

circular : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  May  i,  1861. 

To  the  Governors  of  the  several  states,  and  all  whom  it  may  con 
cern: — I  have  authorized  Colonel  Carl  Schurz  to  raise  and  organize 
a  volunteer  regiment  of  cavalry.  For  the  purpose  of  rendering  it  as 
efficient  as  possible,  he  is  instructed  to  enlist  principally  such  men  as 
have  served  in  the  same  arm  before.  The  government  will  provide 
the  regiment  with  the  arms,  but  cannot  provide  the  horses  and  equip 
ments.  For  these  necessaries  we  rely  upon  the  patriotism  of  the  states 
and  the  citizens,  and  for  this  purpose  I  take  the  liberty  of  requesting  you 
to  afford  Colonel  Schurz  your  aid  in  the  execution  of  this  plan. 

(Signed)         SIMON  CAMERON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

In  connection  with  this  circular  it  is  interesting  to  note 
that  during  the  war  there  were  called  into  active  service 
about  three  hundred  regiments  of  cavalry,  and  nearly  three 
thousand  regiments  of  infantry. 

Colonel  Schurz  for  a  man  of  thirty-two  years  had  had 
an  eventful  life.  In  his  own  land  he  had  been  a  student,  a 
journalist,  and  an  officer  in  the  army.  For  his  participa 
tion  in  the  attempted  revolution  of  1848  he  had  been  forced 
to  flee  from  his  country,  but  secretly  had  returned  and 
effected  the  escape  of  an  associate  who  had  been  kept  in 
prison.  He  had  come  to  America  and  had  become  a  citi 
zen  of  Wisconsin,  first  at  Watertown  and  then  at  Milwau 
kee.  He  was  an  able  lawyer.  His  innate  love  of  liberty 
had  led  him  into  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  that 
was  making  its  determined  fight  against  the  extension  of 
slavery.  He  had  been  a  delegate  to  the  Chicago  convention 
of  1860,  and  had  led  the  Wisconsin  delegation  in  the  sup 
port  of  Lincoln.  He  Avas  a  brilliant  speaker,  and  by  one 
of  his  speeches  had  aroused  the  greatest  enthusiasm  in  the 
convention. 

He  had  now  been  authorized  to  raise  the  one  cavalry 


THE  CALL  FOR  CAVALRY.  13 

regiment  included  in  the  call  for  volunteers  for  three  years, 
or  during  the  war.  On  his  way  to  New  York  to  begin  the 
work  of  recruiting  he  stopped  at  Philadelphia.  Here  he 
found  parts  of  several  light  horse  companies  that  were  try 
ing  to  organize.  He  invited  them  to  become  part  of  his 
regiment,  assuring  them  that  it  was  the  only  regiment  that 
would  be  called  for.  William  H.  Boyd  who  held  the  posi 
tion  of  lieutenant  in  one  of  these  partly  formed  companies, 
was  the  only  officer  who  was  disposed  to  accept  this  invita 
tion.  He  was  requested  to  raise  a  company,  and  this, 
known  as  Company  C,  was  the  first  company  of  volunteer 
cavalry  that  wras  duly  authorized  to  be  raised. 

There  were  many  other  attempts  to  raise  companies, 
but  the  leaders  in  these  efforts  could  get  no  encouragement, 
and  the  attempts  were  abandoned.  Later  these  rejected 
men  found  abundant  opportunities  of  doing  good  service  to 
the  country  and  credit  to  themselves,  many  of  them  rising  to 
high  positions.  In  a  little  more  than  a  year  the  calls  for 
men  were  such  that  local  authorities  in  order  to  fill  their 
quotas  offered  the  inducement  of  bounties.  One  of  the 
earliest  instances  was  that  of  a  man  who  enlisted  under  the 
special  inducement  of  "one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  a 
cow !" 

In  Jersey  City  lived  Frederick  Von  Schickfuss  who  had 
an  honorable  record  as  a  cavalry  officer  in  the  German  army. 
He  was  a  genial  man,  of  commanding  personal  presence, 
well  educated,  and  thoroughly  acquainted  with  cavalry  tac 
tics.  The  colonel  gave  him  authority  to  enlist  the  Germans 
and  he  soon  had  four  companies  partly  formed.  Many  in 
these  companies  were  capable  men  who  had  seen  service  and 
had  been  prominent  in  their  own  land.  They  were  edu 
cated,  hearty,  fond  of  music,  liberty-loving,  and  anxious 
for  service.  There  were  some  from  other  countries  than 
Germany.  One  was  said  to  be  closely  connected  with  the 


14?  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

royal  family  of  Russia.  For  some  misdemeanor  he  had 
been  obliged  to  leave  his  own  country.  Under  an  assumed 
name  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  E. 

The  colonel  invited  those  who  were  meeting  around 
their  headquarters  at  Palace  Garden,  to  unite  their  forces 
with  his.  They  held  a  meeting  to  discuss  this  proposition. 
Many  were  at  first  opposed  to  this  uniting  with  the  Ger 
mans.  But  there  had  been  so  much  delay  that  several  who 
had  been  active  in  the  first  efforts  had  decided  to  accept 
commissions  in  infantry  or  artillery.  One  of  these  was  J. 
Howard  Kitchen  who  became  colonel  of  the  Sixth  N.  Y. 
Artillery,  and  was  mortally  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek.  After 
fully  considering  the  matter  it  seemed  to  these  men  that  this 
would  be  the  quickest  way  of  getting  into  the  service,  and 
the  proposition  of  Col.  Schurz  was  accepted. 

And  now  everything  was  progressing  favorably.  But 
at  this  time  Mr.  Schurz  was  appointed  Minister  to  Spain. 
While  accepting  this  commission,  he  wished  to  see  the  or 
ganization  of  the  regiment  completed,  and  placed  under  a 
competent  commander.  A  man  of  excellent  reputation  was 
Captain  Bayard,  an  instructor  at  West  Point.  Mr.  Bailey 
was  sent  to  see  him,  but  Captain  Bayard  could  not  then  ac 
cept  the  proffered  colonelcy.  But  he  recommended  another 
instructor  at  the  Academy,  Captain  Owen.  This  officer 
was  willing  to  accept,  provided  he  could  be  relieved  from 
duty  in  the  regular  army.  Mr.  Bailey  was  sent  to  Wash 
ington  to  obtain  from  the  authorities  this  release  for  Cap 
tain  Owen.  Mr.  Schurz  gave  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
Montgomery  Blair.  Mr.  Blair  interested  himself  in  the 
matter  and  went  with  Mr.  Bailey  to  see  Secretary  Cameron. 

The  secretary  could  do  nothing  without  the  approval 
of  General  Scott,  or  the  adjutant  general  of  the  army.  The 
latter  officer  was  too  busy  to  be  seen.  So  was  General 
Scott.  But  after  office  hours  Mr.  Bailey  called  at  the  gen- 


THE  CALL  FOR  CAVALRY.  15 

eral's  residence.  An  armed  sentinel  would  have  turned  him 
away,  but  the  general  having  noticed  him,  directed  that  he 
come  in.  The  general  did  not  favor  the  plan  of  allowing 
officers  of  the  regular  army  to  leave  their  positions  for  the 
purpose  of  commanding  volunteers.  He  had  little  faith  in 
volunteer  cavalry.  He  repeated  his  belief  that  the  war 
would  probably  be  over  before  cavalry  could  be  raised  and 
drilled  into  a  condition  for  efficient  service.  Mr.  Bailey 
took  his  leave  and,  somewhat  depressed,  walked  away.  He 
had  no  very  definite  idea  what  he  should  do  next.  It  did 
not  occur  to  him  at  first  to  appeal  to  the  President,  but  after 
a  while  he  found  himself  in  the  vicinity  of  the  White  House. 
It  was  a  reception  day.  Being  one  of  the  people,  Mr.  Bailey 
felt  that  he  had  as  good  a  right  as  any  one  to  join  the  demo 
cratic  multitude  that  was  passing  into  the  mansion.  The 
genial  manner  of  the  President,  so  free  from  repelling  form 
ality,  as  he  greeted  each  one  of  the  hundreds  that  came,  one 
after  another,  to  speak  to  him,  encouraged  Mr.  Bailey  to 
mention  the  case  of  his  regiment. 

"What  can  I  do  for  you,  General  ?" 

"Not  General  yet,  Mr.  President,  but  if  the  war  lasts 
long  enough  I  hope  to  be." 

The  President  referred  him  to  the  secretary  of  war 
and  General  Scott.  Mr.  Bailey  said  he  had  seen  both  and 
neither  would  give  him  any  encouragement.  The  Presi 
dent  assured  him  that,  while  he  did  not  like  to  interfere  in 
matters  that  particularly  belonged  to  the  war  department, 
yet  he  would  give  orders  for  the  acceptance  of  the  regiment 
as  soon  as  it  was  ready.  Mr.  Bailey  returned  to  New  York 
and  renewed  the  hopes  of  the  men  anxious  to  get  into  the 
service  as  soon  as  possible.  They  continued  their  search  for 
a  colonel.  A  Mr.  Merrill  had  been  an  officer  in  the  army, 
but  he  had  offered  his  services  and  his  offer  had  been  de 
clined. 


16  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Philip  Kearney  was  the  nephew  of  Gen.  Stephen  W. 
Kearney  who  had  distinguished  himself  at  Queenstown 
Heights,  in  1812,  had  made  his  famous  overland  march  to 
the  South  Pass  in  1845,  nad  been  military  governor  of  Cali 
fornia,  had  been  with  Gen.  Scott  on  his  campaign  of  1847, 
and  governor  of  Mexico  upon  its  occupation  by  the  U.  S. 
forces.  Philip  was  a  native  of  New  York,  was  a  graduate 
of  Columbia  College,  a  student  of  law  and  an  officer  in  the 
First  dragoons.  In  1839  he  was  sent  by  the  war  depart 
ment  to  study  the  French  cavalry  tactics.  He  volunteered 
with  the  French  in  the  campaign  in  Algiers,  and  by  his  fear 
lessness  in  every  fight  that  he  could  get  into,  he  attracted 
the  notice  of  all  the  French  army.  He  returned  to  this 
country,  and  after  various  services  was  appointed  on  the 
staff  of  Gen.  Scott.  He  went  with  his  uncle  on  the  expedi 
tion  to  the  South  Pass.  He  operated  with  the  cavalry  along 
the  Rio  Grande.  In  the  campaign  of  1847  from  Vera  Cruz 
to  the  Mexican  capital  he  was  captain  of  a  company  of  cav 
alry,  one  company  of  the  squadron  that  formed  the  body 
guard  of  Gen.  Scott.  After  the  battle  of  Churubusco,  Aug. 
20,  at  the  head  of  his  cavalry  he  charged  the  retreating 
enemy  along  the  causeway  into  the  very  gate  of  the  City 
of  Mexico.  In  this  affair  he  received  a  wound  whereby  he 
lost  his  left  arm.  A  month  later  Scott  with  his  army  en 
tered  the  capital.  Kearney  was  brevetted  major.  He  after 
ward  went  to  California,  and  on  around  the  world  and  to 
New  York.  In  1859  he  again  went  to  France  and  volun 
teered  in  the  campaign  in  Italy.  At  Solferino,  "holding 
his  reins  in  his  teeth,"  with  reckless  daring  he  charged  in 
the  forefront  of  the  massed  cavalry  that  broke  the  Austrian 
centre.  He  received  from  France  the  Cross  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor. 

In  1 86 1,  seeing  the  signs  of  war,  he  returned  to  the 
United  States  and  offered  his  services  to  the  war  depart- 


THE  CALL  FOR  CAVALRY.  17 

ment.  His  offers  were  declined.  He  sought  service  of  the 
state  of  New  York.  Here,  too,  his  offers  were  declined. 
The  man  of  whom  Gen.  Scott  had  said,  "He  was  the  bravest 
man  I  ever  knew,  and  the  most  perfect  soldier,"  was  at 
length  suggested  as  the  right  man  to  succeed  Col.  Schurz 
in  the  command  of  the  first  volunteer  cavalry.  But  the 
suggestion  came  just  too  late.  The  governor  of  New  Jersey 
had  found  a  place  for  him,  and  he  was  soon  in  command  of 
a  brigade  made  up  of  New  Jersey  regiments.  Both  this 
brigade  and  the  First  cavalry  were  in  Franklin's  division. 
The  cavalry  never  lost  sight  of  Gen.  Kearney.  Some  of  its 
best  work  was  done  under  his  direction.  Its  first  winter 
camp  was  Camp  Kearney,  next  to  the  grounds  of  Fairfax 
Seminary  on  the  east,  and  the  general's  headquarters  were 
on  the  hill  to  the  south.  He  was  a  conspicuous  figure  on 
his  iron  gray  horse,  with  his  armless  sleeve,  his  severe  fea 
tures,  and  prominent  gray  moustache  and  beard  covering 
his  chin.  He  was  given  to  emphatic  speech  as  well  in  com 
mending  a  daring  deed,  as  in  expressing  his  impatience  at 
delay.  At  Williamsburg  arid  all  through  the  Peninsula 
campaign  he  was  an  inspiration  to  his  men.  In  strong 
language  he  denounced  McClellan's  order  to  retreat  after 
the  victory  of  Malvern  Hill.  At  Chantilly,  Sept.  i,  while 
placing  his  division  in  the  evening  he  rode  forward  to  the 
enemy's  line.  He  was  ordered  to  surrender.  Seeing  his 
mistake  he  wheeled  his  horse  and  riding  back  was  shot. 
His  body  was  sent  by  flag  of  truce  into  his  own  lines. 

So  that  soldierly  legend  is  still  on  its  journey — 

That  story  of  Kearney,  who  knew  not  to  yield. 
Twas  a  day  when  with  Jameson,  fierce  Berry,  and  Birney, 

Against  twenty  thousand  he  rallied  the  field, 
Where  the  red  volleys  poured,  where  the  clamor  rose  highest, 

Where  the  dead  lay  in  clumps  through  the  dwarf  oak  and  pine, 
Where  the  aim  from  the  thickets  was  surest  and  nighest — 

No  charge  like  Phil  Kearney's  along  the  whole  line. 


18  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

When  the  battle  went  ill,  and  the  bravest  were  solemn, 

Near  the  dark  Seven  Pines  where  we  still  held  our  ground, 
He  rode  down  the  length  of  the  withering  column, 

And  his  heart  at  our  war  cry  leapt  up  with  a  bound. 
He  snuffed,  like  his  charger,  the  wind  of  our  powder — 

His  sword  waved  us  on  and  we  answered  his  sign ; 
Loud  our  cheer  as  we  rushed,  but  his  laugh  rang  the  louder ! 

"There's  the  devil's  own  fun,  boys,  along  whole  line." 

How  he  strode  his  gray  steed !     How  we  saw  his  blade  brighten 
In  the  one  hand  still  left,  and  the  reins  in  his  teeth. 

He  laughed  like  a  boy  when  the  holidays  heighten, 
But  a  soldiers  glance  shot  from  his  visor  beneath ! 

Up  came  the  reserves  to  the  mellay  infernal, 

Asking  where  to  go  in — through  the  clearing  or  pine? 

"Oh,  anywhere !     Forward !     Tis  all  the   same,   colonel ! 
"You'll  find  lovely  fighting  along  the  whole  line." 

O,  evil  the  black  shroud  of  night  at  Chantilly, 

That  hid  him  from  sight  of  his  brave  men  and  tried. 
Foul,  foul  sped  the  bullet  that  clipped  the  white  lily, 

The  flower  of  our  knighthood,  the  whole  army's  pride. 
Yet  we  dream  that  he  still  in  that  shadowy  region 

Where  the  dead  form  the  ranks  of  the  war  drummer's  sign, 
Rides  on  as  of  old,  down  the  length  of  his  legion, 

And  the  word  still  is  "Forward !  along  the  whole  line." 

E.  C.   STEDMAN. 


CHAPTER  III. 
MUSTERED  IN. 

TO  the  delegation  that  waited  upon  Philip  Kearney  to 
offer  him  the  command  of  the  regiment  he  stated 
that  the  governor  of  New  Jersey  had  called  for  his  aid  in 
organizing  the  troops  of  that  state.  He  recommended 
Andrew  T.  McReynolds  whom  he  had  known  as  a  captain 
of  cavalry  in  the  Mexican  war,  whose  company  with  his 
own  had  formed  the  body  guard  of  Gen.  Scott.  He  had 
participated  in  the  charge  at  the  gate  of  the  city  of  Mexico 
and  for  his  gallantry  had  been  brevetted  major.  His 
bridle  arm  had  been  partially  disabled  by  a  wound  received 
at  that  time.  He  was  now  residing  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich., 
practicing  law.  The  regiment  was  in  haste  to  have  a 
colonel.  In  response  to  an  invitation  by  telegraph,  Mr. 
McReynolds  came  at  once  to  New  York. 

He  was  an  Irishman  by  birth,  and  was  now  fifty-five 
years  of  age.  In  early  life  he  had  come  to  this  country 
where  relatives  of  his  family  had  become  prominent. 
Andrew  Jackson  was  his  mother's  cousin.  He  had  become 
a  citizen  of  Michigan.  He  had  become  interested  in  poli 
tics,  and  had  been  a  member  of  the  legislature.  In  the 
Mexican  war  President  Polk  had  given  him  a  commission 
as  captain  of  cavalry. 

He  was  a  little  below  the  medium  stature,  and  solidly 
built,  with  a  broad,  smooth  face,  and  hair  reaching  to  his 


20  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

coat  collar.  His  appearance  formed  quite  a  contrast  to  that 
of  Col.  Schurz  with  his  spare  form  and  quick,  nervous 
speech  and  manner.  He  did  not  impress  one  as  having  the 
soldierly  promptness  of  Philip  Kearney,  but  his  record  was 
good.  At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  and  many  of  the  men, 
Carl  Schurz  presiding,  the  command  of  the  regiment  was 
formally  tendered  to  Mr.  McReynolds.  But  this  action 
must  be  sanctioned  by  the  war  department  at  Washington. 
Thither  proceeded  a  delegation  of  officers  taking  with  them 
the  official  appointment  of  Col.  Schurz,  on  which  he  had 
written  the  following  endorsement : 

NEW  YORK,  June  5,   1861. 
Maj.  A.  T.  McReynolds. 

DEAR  SIR:  Being  ordered  by  the  President  to  leave  for  my  dip 
lomatic  position  at  Madrid,  I  am  obliged  to  dissolve  my  connection 
with  the  cavalry  regiment  within  referred  to.  Having  satisfied  my 
self  that  you  are  eminently  fit  to  stand  at  the  head  of  this  organization, 
and  having  obtained  the  consent  of  the  officers  within  my  reach,  I  take 
the  liberty  of  respectfully  requesting  you  to  take  my  place  in  this 
matter.  I  would  invite  you  to  see  the  authorities  at  Washington  for 
the  purpose  of  inducing  them  to  ratify  this  transfer  of  authority. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed        CARL  SCHURZ. 

Arriving  at  Washington  the  officers  called  upon  the 
President.  He  referred  them  to  the  secretary  of  war.  The 
secretary  was  disposed  to  retain  the  paper,  saying  that  the 
authority  to  raise  this  regiment  was  given  to  Col.  Schurz 
as  a  political  favor  rather  than  as  an  indication  of  the  need 
of  any  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  now  that  he  had  received 
the  appointment  as  minister  to  Spain,  there  was  no  need 
of  proceeding  further  in  the  raising  of  a  regiment,  or  of 
raising  any  cavalry  whatever,  as  the  war  would  be  over  in 
ninety  days.  Seeing  that  the  secretary  was  intending  to 
keep  the  paper,  one  of  the  officers,  for  the  reason  that  he 
had  a  personal  interest  in  Carl  Schurz's  indorsement,  asked 


MUSTERED  IN.  21 

for  the  document.  With  this  they  went  again  to  see  the 
President.  He  was  more  accessible  than  the  head  of  the 
war  department  had  been,  who  had  not  realized  that  the 
country  was  entering  into  a  struggle  in  arms,  and  was  most 
interested  in  looking  after  the  interests  of  his  political 
friends  in  his  own  state. 

The  officers  on  their  way  to  see  the  President  found  a 
friend  in  the  person  of  ex-Governor  Newell,  of  New  Jersey, 
who  went  with  them  and  interceded  in  their  behalf.  The 
President  listened  to  the  statement  of  their  affairs  and  then 
endorsed  the  papers : 

Hon.  Secretary  of  War: 

Please  say  to  Col.  A.  T.  McReynolds  that  when  he  will  present 
the  cavalry  regiment  according  to  the  within  authority,  they  will  be 
received  under  him  as  they  would  have  been  under  Col.  Schurz. 

(Signed)        A.  LINCOLN. 

June  13. 

With  this  the  delegation  returned  to  the  secretary.  As 
they  showed  it  to  him  he  lost  his  temper,  and  commented 
severely  on  the  manner  in  which  they  had  induced  him  to 
return  the  paper  when  he  had  proposed  to  retain  it,  and  had 
secured  the  endorsement  of  the  President,  and  expressed 
the  wish  that  the  latter  would  remember  there  was  a  war 
department.  He  undoubtedly  thought  that  he,  and  not  Mr. 
Lincoln,  ought  to  be  president.  But,  however  much  he 
would  have  liked  to  ignore  the  President's  action,  he  could 
not  quite  do  so.  But  he  declined  to  do  anything  more  in 
the  matter  without  the  approval  of  General  Scott.  The 
general  was  so  pressed  with  business  that  it  was  difficult 
to  see  him.  But  one  of  the  delegation  had  been  prominent 
in  New  York  politics,  and  in  an  emergency  seemed  full  of 
resources  and  had  learned  how  to  make  use  of  them.  He 
always  seemed  to  find  an  influential  friend  when  he  was  in 
special  need.  There  were  times  when  his  own  assurance, 


22  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

while  it  astonished  those  who  knew  him  best,  carried  him 
through.  Just  now  the  delegation  were  determined  to  get 
the  best  of  the  reluctant  secretary,  and  the  politico-military 
officer  bethought  himself  that  he  knew  Schuyler  Hamilton, 
one  of  the  general's  staff,  and  through  his  intercession  he 
obtained  an  audience  long  enough  to  secure  a  brief  note 
from  the  general  approving  the  acceptance  of  this  regiment. 
Apparently  the  secretary  had  not  expected  this.  But  he 
could  not  disregard  it,  and  he  gave  a  qualified  approval. 

"Approved,  on  the  condition  that  the  whole  regiment  be  at  Wash 
ington,  or  wherever  ordered  to  be,  by  the  first  day  of  August  next,  and 
portions  of  it  before  the  I5th  of  July  next." 

(Signed)         SIMON  CAMERON. 
June  15. 

"Of  such  difficulty  was  it  to  found  the  Roman  nation," 
wrote  the  poet  Virgil,  as  he  described  the  wanderings  of 
Aeneas,  and  the  interference  of  the  deities.  And  of  such 
difficulty  was  it  to  organize  the  first  cavalry  volunteers, 
THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY,  for  so  was  the  regiment 
now  named  out  of  respect  to  the  President  who  had  per 
sonally  interested  himself  in  its  behalf. 

With  full  authority  the  officers  now  made  every  effort 
to  complete  the  organization  of  the  Lincoln  cavalry.  Head 
quarters  were  at  Disbrow's  Riding  Academy,  Fifth  Avenue 
and  59th  street,  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Union 
League  Club  building.  The  large  circular  riding  room 
with  its  floor  covered  with  tan  bark,  became  a  drill  room. 
Recruiting  stations  were  established  at  Palace  Garden,  at 
600  Broadway,  and  at  43  Courtland  street.  Privates  as 
well  as  those  who  expected  to  be  officers  were  active  in  look 
ing  for  recruits.  Captain  Hayman  of  the  regular  army  was 
ready  to  muster  in  companies  as  soon  as  they  had  the  regu 
lation  number  of  men.  Young  men  and  boys  from  the 


MUSTERED  IN.  23 

neighboring  states  came  to  the  city  to  join  this  regiment. 
There  were  young  men  of  the  best  families,  educated,  and 
of  the  highest  social  position,  anxious  to  enter  the  ranks, 
not  seeking  commissions  until  they  could  win  them  by 
faithful  service.  Their  first  purpose  was  to  serve  the 
country  in  its  time  of  need.  The  consciousness  of  not  hav 
ing  done  their  part  would  be  a  cause  of  regret  to  them  in 
after  life. 

A  boy  of  nineteen,  the  son  of  a  well-to-do  farmer  in 
an  interior  county  of  the  state,  inherited  the  spirit  of  Rev 
olutionary  ancestors.  The  thought  of  staying  home  in 
these  stirring  times  was  intolerable.  But  he  could  not  get 
his  father's  consent  to  enlist.  His  services  in  the  army 
were  not  needed  yet,  and  there  was  too  much  work  to  be 
done  on  the  farm.  He  could  not  be  spared.  His  father 
was  a  positive  man  used  to  having  his  own  way.  His  word 
was  law.  There  was  no  use  in  arguing  the  question.  The 
boy  thought  he  knew  a  better  way.  He  lost  all  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  the  farm.  Sent  to  the  field  he  would  climb 
the  fence  and  sit  perched  on  the  top  rail  in  a  fit  of  abstrac 
tion,  forgetful  of  his  team  that  stood  meanwhile  idle  in  the 
furro\v.  He  would  not  work.  His  father  gave  up  the 
case,  and  told  him  he  might  as  well  go.  He  appeared  at 
headquarters,  bringing  a  cousin  with  him. 

In  Philadelphia  a  light  horse  company  under  Captain 
William  R.  Wister  had  started  early  and  made  strenuous 
efforts  to  get  into  the  service.  In  response  to  an  applica 
tion  the  captain  received  the  following : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  June   14,   1861. 
Captain  William  Rotch  Wister,  Philadelphia. 

DEAR  SIR:  This  Department,  I  am  instructed  by  the  secretary 
to  say  to  you,  will  accept  your  light  horse  company,  to  be  attached 
to  the  regiment  of  cavalry  being  formed  to  serve  for  three  years  or 


24  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

during  the  war,  if  ready  to  be  so  mustered,  and  will,  in  that  event, 
furnish  the  holsters,  pistols,  and  swords,  but  not  the  uniforms,  horses 
or  equipments.  Very  respectfully, 

(Signed)     J.  P.  SANDERSON, 

Chief  Clerk. 

It  was  understood  that  each  man  furnishing  his  own 
horse  and  equipments  was  to  be  allowed  forty  cents  a  day 
for  their  use.  But  the  efforts  to  find  enough  men  who 
could  provide  themselves  with  these  were  not  successful,  and 
Captain  Wister's  company  disbanded.  The  most  of  the 
men  enrolled  themselves  with  Captain  Boyd. 

It  was  no  longer  required  that  men  should  furnish  their 
own  horses  and  equipments. 

There  were  men  who  had  passed  the  age  limit,  but  they 
put  on  their  youngest  looks  as  they  presented  themselves 
for  muster.  Boys  under  age  looked  as  mature  as  possible 
and  felt  that  they  were  not  required  to  tell  unnecessary 
truths  about  their  birthdays.  There  were  odd  characters 
among  the  men  in  the  ranks,  and  it  will  be  interesting  to 
follow  them  in  their  later  careers. 

There  was  some  political  maneuvering  for  the  offices. 
One  capable  young  man  who  had  done  good  work  in  pro 
moting  enlistments  was  obliged  to  be  absent  at  the  time  of 
the  mustering  in  of  the  company  in  which  it  was  expected 
that  he  would  be  an  officer.  An  active  little  man  with 
nothing  martial  in  his  appearance,  \vho  was  on  hand,  man 
aged  to  wiggle  into  the  second  lieutenantcy.  The  capable 
man  was  left  out.  But  his  ability  was  recognized  else 
where.  He  distinguished  himself,  and  became  a  colonel 
and  brevet  brigadier  general.  In  the  hurly  burly  of  active 
campaigns  the  little  lieutenant  was  lost  sight  of. 

One  candidate  was  willing  to  sacrifice  a  friend  in  order 
to  save  himself.  The  friend,  though  feeling  keenly  the 
treatment  he  had  received,  quietly  took  his  place  in  the 


MUSTERED  IN.  25 

ranks  and  was  mustered  in.  But  the  wheel  of  fortune 
turned.  In  a  few  months  he  was  a  lieutenant  and  officer 
of  the  guard,  while  the  other  was  in  his  charge,  under  arrest 
for  drunkenness  and  disgraceful  conduct  for  which  he  was 
compelled  to  resign. 

There  were  generous  acts,  too.  One,  who  for  his  work 
in  securing  enlistments  and  organizing  a  company,  was 
thought  to  be  entitled  to  be  its  captain,  waived  all  claims  and 
insisted  that  a  man  who  had  served  in  the  regular  army, 
and  was  competent  to  command,  should  be  chosen,  while 
he  himself  went  into  the  ranks.  He  rose  to  be  a  captain 
and  was  brevetted  major. 

There  were  some  who  were  dissatisfied  because  things 
did  not  move  fast  enough.  A  few  of  these  after  they 
were  mustered  in  deserted,  and  under  other  names  joined 
other  regiments  where  they  served  with  distinction  and 
won  positions.  One  capable  but  reckless  fellow  went  to 
the  "Wild  West''  where  he  organized  a  regiment  of  rough 
riders,  wild  fellows  who  were  known  as  "The  Lost  Souls." 
He  led  them  in  some  rough  fighting. 

Company  D  was  the  first  to  be  mustered  in,  July  16. 
The  i  Qth  two  were  mustered,  B  in  New  York,  and  C  in 
Philadelphia ;  two  on  the  2Oth,  and  others  on  different  dates, 
the  last  of  the  twelve  companies,  September  9.  Delays 
were  occasioned  on  account  of  the  rejection  of  men  by  the 
examining  surgeon.  A  company  would  be  ready,  as  sup 
posed,  when,  on  calling  the  roll,  a  man  or  two  would  be 
wanting,  and  there  would  be  lively  hunting  for  men  to 
make  up  the  required  number.  There  were  instances 
where  a  few  men  would  be  borrowed  for  the  purpose  of 
standing  in  the  ranks  and  answering  to  invented  names  until 
the  muster  could  be  completed,  when  they  would  be  allowed 
to  return  to  their  own  companies.  It  was  reported  that  in 
a  few  cases  good  wages  were  to  be  paid  to  out-siders  for 


26  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

taking  part  in  this  brief  service,  when  they  would  be  per 
mitted  to  go  their  ways.  On  the  muster  out  of  the  three 
months'  regiments,  many  of  these  men  re-enlisted  in  the 
cavalry,  filling  the  companies  to  the  maximum. 

The  four  German  companies  formed  one  of  the  three 
battalions.  They  were  hearty,  stalwart  men,  cheerful  un 
der  almost  all  conditions.  In  one  of  Sheridan's  mid 
winter  marches  it  was  necessary  for  a  body  of  cavalry  to 
cross  a  swollen  stream  full  of  floating  ice  and  nearly  up  to 
the  horses'  backs ;  possibly  they  would  have  to  swim.  Those 
first  selected  for  this  work  hesitated  and  shrank  from  the 
cold  bath.  Some  of  these  German  companies  were  ordered 
forward,  when  unhesitatingly,  lustily  singing  a  German 
song,  they  plunged  in.  From  that  time  on  they  were  fav 
orites  with  Sheridan.  Most  of  their  officers  were  experi 
enced  soldiers,  capable,  willing  and  efficient,  some  of  them 
titled  men  in  their  own  country. 

Company  C,  as  has  already  been  stated,  was  a  Phila 
delphia  company.  Company  F  was  raised  in  and  around 
Syracuse,  and  K  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  the  home  of 
the  colonel. 

The  expectant  officers  were  objects  of  scrutiny  and 
speculation.  There  were  those  who  had  been  in  the  regular 
army,  well-informed  as  to  their  duties  and  capable  to  com 
mand,  but  whose  unfortunate  habits  led  them  into  difficul 
ties.  There  were  those  who  had  served  as  enlisted  men  in  the 
regular  cavalry,  efficient  in  drill,  quiet  in  speech  and  manner, 
careful  of  their  men,  steady  and  unflinching  in  fight,  in 
whom  their  men  had  perfect  confidence.  There  were  those 
who  considered  an  enlisted  man  a  proper  subject  for  abuse 
and  profanity,  and  who  were  slow  to  learn  that  civility  and 
modesty  were  not  inconsistent  with  courage  and  efficiency 
in  the  heat  of  battle.  There  were  boasters  who  never  ful 
filled  their  promises.  At  the  muster  in  of  one  of  the  com- 


MUSTERED  IN.  27 

panics  the  excitable  expectant  captain  made  an  eloquent 
dramatic  speech  to  his  men,  advising  them  to  "elect  as  offi 
cers  those  who  would  lead  them  to  victory  or  death !"  It  did 
not  occur  to  them  that  in  less  than  a  year  he  would  again  ad 
dress  those  same  men,  proposing  that  they  go  into  hostile 
lines  and  surrender,  when  as  yet  there  was  no  enemy  in 
sight ! 

There  were  differences  among  the  officers.  One  man 
of  large  physical  proportions,  given  to  talking  about  the 
political  influence  that  he  could  bring  to  his  support  and  to 
the  aid  of  his  fellow  officers  should  they  ever  stand  in  need 
of  such  aid,  and  of  the  valiant  deeds  that  he  would  per 
form  with  his  command,  if  he  should  get  one,  had  rendered 
himself  obnoxious.  He  was  the  victim  of  many  a  joke  that 
would  have  induced  a  sensitive  man  to  return  to  private 
life.  But  he  was  like  a  man  of  vulcanized  rubber,  of  such 
elasticity  that  the  hardest  blows  were  followed  by  an  in 
stant  rebound,  leaving  no  visible  or  permanent  impression. 
A  paper  numerously  signed,  and  not  expressed  in  the  most 
elegant  and  courteous  phraseology,  was  presented  to  him, 
informing  him  that  his  presence  was  a  detriment,  and  citing 
past  words  and  actions  that  rendered  him  unfit  to  associate 
with  loyal  officers  and  gentlemen.  The  chaplain  was  sup 
posed  to  be,  on  all  moral  questions,  adviser  of  all  who  were 
in  difficulties.  He  was  a  man  after  the  style  of  Friar  Tuck  in 
Scott's  Ivanhoe,  at  times  somewhat  convivial  and  facetious. 
By  him  the  aggrieved  officer  was  advised  that  the  affront  he 
had  received  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  challenge  to 
mortal  combat  the  one  who  had  been  foremost  in  offering 
this  insult;  it  was  the  only  way  in  which  he  could  maintain 
his  honor  and  standing  in  the  regiment.  But  he  argued 
that  he  had  entered  the  service  to  put  down  the  rebellion, 
and  he  must  not  let  anything  interfere  with  this  purpose. 
Clothing  himself  with  his  assurance,  he  ignored  charges  and 


28  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ridicule,  and  kept  himself  in  the  front.  In  later  experiences 
he  was  repeatedly  under  arrest,  but  he  would  always  man 
age  to  shake  himself  out  of  his  predicaments.  Placed  in 
conditions  in  which  an  exceedingly  sensitive  man  would 
think  himself  submerged,  he  would  rise  to  the  surface  seem 
ingly  refreshed  from  his  immersion.  He  would  manage  to 
have  frequent  favorable  notices  of  himself  appear  in  the 
public  journals.  But  it  is  only  justice  to  say  that  in  some 
severe  encounters  with  the  enemy,  his  assurance  did  not 
even  then  fail  him,  but  contributed  to  the  winning  of  victory. 
There  were  officers  who  could  be  on  easy,  familiar 
terms  with  their  men  without  losing  their  respect  or  im 
pairing  their  own  authority,  gentlemen  of  highest  honor, 
irreproachable  in  every  act. 


JOHN  F.   KENT. 


ELIAS  BURR. 


WILLIAM   VERRINDER. 


JHROME  -BEH,.    - 


CHAPTER  IV. 
ELM  PARK  AND  BELLEVUE  GARDEN. 

ETWEEN  what  are  now  Columbus  and  Amsterdam 
avenues,  and  between  Seventy-eighth  and  Eightieth 
streets,  just  west  of  the  grounds  of  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  was  Elm  Park.  These  spacious  grounds,  now  oc 
cupied  by  blocks  of  stately  homes,  were  then  in  their  natural 
state,  well  shaded,  a  resort  where  the  busy  people  from 
down  town  would  betake  themselves  to  enjoy  something  of 
the  country.  There  were  restaurants  and  halls  for  their 
entertainment.  In  these  grounds  the  Germans  and  four 
American  companies,  as  fast  as  mustered,  went  into  camp. 
Sleeping  in  a  tent,  on  a  little  straw  spread  on  the  ground, 
and  covered  with  a  blanket,  was  a  new  experience.  At 
long  tables  in  the  halls  the  men  were  fed,  the  work  of  feed 
ing  being  let  by  contract.  No  uniforms  or  arms  had  yet 
been  provided.  The  drills  were  only  in  marching.  This 
manner  of  life  in  these  shady  grounds  was  not  at  all  un 
pleasant;  it  was  a  big  picnic.  The  families  and  other 
friends  of  officers  and  men  were  frequent  visitors. 

But  one  day  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  some 
of  the  Germans  and  Americans  over  a  supposed  discourte 
ous  remark  said  to  have  been  made  by  one  of  the  latter. 
The  supposed  affront  was  magnified  as  the  story  was  re 
peated,  until  the  matter  grew  exciting.  As  the  Germans 
could  not  understand  much  English,  and  the  Americans 

29 


30  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

could  not  readily  speak  or  understand  German,  it  was  not 
easy  to  make  explanations.  The  excitement  grew  until  the 
tumult  became  a  veritable  babel  of  confused  tongues.  The 
surging  crowd  would  be  moved  toward  one  corner  of  the 
grounds,  and  then  would  be  swayed  in  some  other  direc 
tion.  It  seemed  for  awhile  as  if  it  would  become  a  serious 
affair.  But  the  colonel,  aided  by  some  of  the  other  officers, 
at  last  succeeded  in  securing  partial  quiet.  Explanations 
were  made  and  all  became  peaceful.  In  one  part  of  the 
grounds  was  the  camp  of  an  organization  of  German  rifle 
men  known  as  the  "Lincoln  Greens,"  so  called  from  the 
color  of  their  uniform.  Some  disputes  arose  between  these 
and  the  cavalrymen  as  to  which  was  first  entitled  to  the 
name  ''Lincoln."  Perhaps  the  too  frequent  drinking  of 
beer  had  something  to  do  with  these  disputes. 

It  was  deemed  best  that  the  English  speaking  com 
panies  should  occupy  another  camp,  and  Bellevue  Garden 
was  chosen.  This  was  a  semi-rural  resort  on  East  river 
between  Sixty-third  and  Sixty-fifth  streets  and  opposite 
BlackwelFs  Island.  It  was  a  very  favorable  location.  The 
tents  were  pitched  according  to  regulations,  and  the  routine 
of  camp  life,  with  the  regular  calls,  guard  mount  and  drill, 
was  begun.  The  drill  soon  showred  progress  in  facing, 
marching  and  wheeling.  After  a  little  some  sabres  were 
furnished  and  drill  with  these  was  regular.  The  men,  as  at 
Elm  Park  were  fed  at  "public  tables"  furnished  by  contract. 

There  were  many  amusing  incidents  growing  out  of 
ignorance  of  what  the  regulations  required.  Officers  as 
well  as  privates  had  much  to  learn.  An  Englishman,  Cor 
poral  John  Ferguson,  who  had  served  in  the  British  army, 
was  the  best  authority  in  the  camp  on  the  proper  way  to 
salute  an  officer.  He  also  gave  instructions  as  to  what  was 
required  while  on  guard.  Sergeant  John  J.  O'Brien  had 
served  in  the  regular  infantry.  A  huge  moustache  was  sup- 


ELM  PARK  AND  BELLEVUE  GARDEN.  31 

posed  to  contribute  to  his  soldierly  appearance.  He  was 
fluent  and  plausible  in  speech.  He  was  detailed  to  drill  the 
awkward  squads.  He  was  conspicuous  for  insisting  on  the 
rear  rank  observing  the  proper  distance  of  exactly  "thirteen 
inches  from  back  to  breast."  When  off  duty,  with  a  little 
encouragement  he  would  entertain  his  tent  mates  with 
stories  and  dialect  songs. 

Until  those  having  authority  had  learned  the  best  way 
of  exercising  it  over  intelligent  men,  the  "guard  house," 
was  a  frequent  menace  for  minor  offences  against  discipline, 
and  once  when  there  was  a  little  too  much  noise  after  "taps," 
Sergeant  McCormick,  armed  with  a  huge  club,  like  a  veri 
table  Hercules,  strode  down  the  line  of  Company  F,  threat 
ening  dire  punishment  unless  there  was  instant  silence.  Ill 
timed  as  it  may  seem,  there  was  loud  and  irrepressible 
laughter  when  Captain  Harkins,  attempting  an  exhibition 
of  superior  horsemanship,  rode  a  powerful  charger  full  tilt 
at  a  low  hurdle,  and  in  the  act  of  leaping,  fell  off  and  rolled 
in  the  dust  almost  beneath  the  horse's  feet. 

The  man  of  large  proportions  and  large  assurance, 
whom  no  company  wanted  as  a  lieutenant,  had  become  a 
major.  He  was  not  at  first  an  expert  in  executing  maneu 
vers.  But  he  supposed  he  could  do  it,  as  he  thought  he  had 
noticed  how  others  did  it.  In  aligning  his  battalion  he  com 
manded,  "Right  dress.  Front  dress" (  !)  It  took  time  for 
him  to  discriminate  between  proper  orders  and  orders  that 
were  impossible  of  execution.  In  time  he  became  noted 
for  the  stentorian  voice  in  which  he  was  accustomed  to 
give  the  prolonged  command — "M-a-a-a-r-c-h !" 

To  those  who  were  not  residents  of  the  city,  the  time 
spent  in  army  camps  of  instruction  was  in  many  ways  full  of 
interesting  experiences.  Some  of  them  had  been  careful 
students  in  history,  and  they  were  interested  in  looking  up 
localities  where  had  taken  place  important  events.  One, 


32  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

while  on  his  way  from  the  central  part  of  the  state,  had 
stopped  for  a  day  at  West  Point.     The  story  of  the  place 
was  familiar  to  him.     He  climbed  the  mountain  to  old  Fort 
Putnam.     He  went  along  the  margin  of  the  water  batteries 
where  the  river  is  narrowest.     It  was  somewhere  near  here 
that  the  great  chain  wras  stretched  across  to  prevent  the 
British  ships  from  ascending  the  river.     A  young  woman 
of  eighteen  or  twenty  years  was  gathering  flowers  along 
the  water's  edge.     Approaching  and  greeting  her  with  re 
spect,  he  asked  her  if  she  could  tell  him  where  the  chain 
was  fastened  here  in  the  Revolutionary  war.     With  an  air 
of  perfect  frankness  she  replied,  "I  don't  know,  sir;  I  was 
not  living  here  at  that  time."     Such  want  of  interest  in 
local  history  would  not  have  been  suspected.     In  the  city  it 
was  easy  to  find  where  Washington  at  different  times  had 
his  headquarters,  and  the  site  of  the  old  Federal  Hall  where 
he  was  inaugurated  president.     A  horse-back  ride  to  Har 
lem,  or  up  the  Bloomingdale  road,  would  take  one  over  the 
ground  where  the  opposing  armies  confronted  each  other. 
On  the  Harlem  plains  the  American  militia  had  fled  in  con 
fusion,  and  Washington  had  recklessly  exposed  himself  in 
trying  to  rally  them.     Here  and  there,  above  and  below 
camp,  batteries  had  been  placed  along  the  river  bank  to 
prevent  the  British  troops  from  landing.     At  the  house  of 
Robert  Murray,  then  his  country  seat,  near  the  site  of  the 
present  Murray  Hill  hotel,  Washington  gave  his  instruc 
tions  to  Captain  Nathan  Hale  when  the  latter  volunteered 
to  go  into  the  enemy's  camp  for  information. 

It  was  at  this  same  house  that  Lord  Howe  was  detained 
by  the  hospitality  of  Mrs.  Murray,  while  Gen.  Putnam  on 
the  west  side  of  the  island  was  hurrying  his  command  out 
of  danger  up  the  Bloomingdale  road.  The  son  of  this 
hostess  of  Lord  Howe  became  the  author  of  the  noted  Mur 
ray's  English  Grammar.  On  52nd  street  just  east  of  First 


ELM  PARK  AND  BELLEVUE  GARDEN.  33 

avenue,  at  the  Beekman-  House,  Howe  had  his  headquarters, 
and  here  in  the  garden  house  Hale  was  kept  a  prisoner  for 
a  night.  The  next  morning  he  \vas  handed  over  to  the 
provost  marshal,  and  hanged  to  the  limb  of  an  apple  tree 
in  Rutgers  orchard,  near  the  intersection  of  East  Broadway 
and  Market  street.  On  the  9th  of  July,  on  the  site  of  the 
City  Hall  and  the  park  in  front,  Washington  had  the  Dec 
laration  of  Independence  read  to  the  army.  The  reading 
was  followed  by  the  most  enthusiastic  cheering. 

As  these  historic  places  were  visited  and  these  scenes 
recalled,  the  question  suggested  itself,  "Are  the  best  periods 
in  the  Nation's  history  in  the  past,  or  are  they  yet  to  come?" 

Daily  there  would  pass  down  the  river  in  front  of  the 
camp,  the  great  Sound  steamers  loaded  with  patriotic  men 
from  New  England  bound  for  the  seat  of  war,  and  the 
cheers  from  the  camp  were  answered  from  crowded 
steamers.  The  kindly  interest  and  encouragement  of  the 
people  of  the  city  were  manifested  by  frequent  visits  to  the 
camp  and  by  the  giving  of  many  things  for  the  comfort 
and  convenience  of  the  men. 

The  cry  of  the  newspapers — "On  to  Richmond !" — that 
voiced  the  impatience  of  the  people,  stimulated  the  author 
ities  at  the  capital.  McDowell's  army  was  preparing  to  ad 
vance.  Lieutenant  Tomkins  with  a  small  detachment  of 
regular  cavalry  had  clashed  out  into  the  country  between  the 
two  armies.  But  there  was  felt  the  need  of  sufficient  cavalry 
to  picket  the  outposts  and  scout  along  the  whole  front,  and 
orders  were  given  to  hurry  forward  the  regiment. 


CHAPTER  V. 
COMPANY  C  AT  THE  FRONT.    THE  FIRST  FIGHT. 

JULY  22nd  Company  C,  Captain  Wm.  H.  Boyd,  left  Phil 
adelphia  for  Washington.  When  they  arrived  at  the 
capital  the  city  was  full  of  fugitives  from  the  disastrous  field 
of  Bull  Run.  Each  of  the  fugitives  had  his  story  to  tell  of 
the  victory  almost  won,  and  the  cause  of  the  stampede. 
There  were  stories  of  heroism  and  of  hardship.  It  seemed 
as  if  a  little  thing  might  turn  the  tide  of  battle.  There  were 
those  who  thought  that  the  stampede  began  when  it  was 
reported  that  the  Virginia  Black  Horse  Cavalry  were  com 
ing,  prepared  to  charge,  and  the  lack  of  cavalry  on  the 
Union  side  was  noted  as  a  fatal  defect. 

There  were  multitudes  of  people,  visitors  in  Washing 
ton,  civilians,  members  of  congress,  employes  in  the  depart 
ments,  and  even  women  who  went  out  in  carriages  that  Sun 
day  morning  to  witness  the  battle.  The  gay  equipages 
went  out  filled  with  occupants  prepared  for  a  holiday.  They 
came  back  in  the  confused  rout  of  a  defeated  army. 

Captain  William  H.  Boyd,  was  a  man  of  ability  and 
indomitable  energy  and  perseverance.  He  and  his  Lieuten 
ants,  Wm.  W.  Hanson  and  James  H.  Stevenson,  had  made 
every  effort  to  get  to  the  front  as  soon  as  possible.  Reach 
ing  Washington  on  the  afternoon  of  July  22nd,  they  were 
quartered  for  the  night  in  a  building  on  E  street,  between 
1 4th  and  I5th  streets.  The  captain  was  in  the  habit  of 


84 


COMPANY  C  AT  THE  FRONT.     THE  FIRST  FIGHT.     35 

looking  after  things  himself,  and  as  soon  as  his  men  were 
in  quarters  he  set  out  to  find  rations  and  cooking  utensils. 
Lieutenant  Stevenson  had  served  in  the  First  U.  S.  Dra 
goons,  and  his  experience  proved  valuable.  He  found 
among  the  men  two  who  had  been,  one  a  soldier,  the  other 
a  sailor,  and  were  presumed  to  be  competent  to  act  as  cooks. 
They  were  detailed  for  that  duty.  The  captain  was  prompt  in 
securing  blankets  and  clothing.  It  can  well  be  supposed- 
that  events  of  the  past  few  days  furnished  abundant  topics 
for  conversation  among  the  men  their  first  night  in  the 
center  of  military  operations.  These  events  suggested,  too, 
what  might  be  in  store  for  them.  But  the  quickly  acquired 
buoyancy  of  spirits,  peculiar  to  the  life  of  the  soldier,  was 
manifest  when  the  officers  looked  in  upon  them  late  in  the 
evening.  Among  them  were  young  men  from  the  best 
families  of  Philadelphia,  and  their  high  personal  character 
had  its  influence  on  the  entire  company.  The  next  day 
camp  equipage  was  procured,  and  Camp  Meigs  on  the  East 
Capital  Hill  was  established,  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  num 
ber  of  infantry  camps.  The  following  day,  the  24th,  horses, 
horse  equipments  and  arms  were  provided.  The  work  of 
preparation  proceeded  rapidly.  August  7th,  in  compliance 
with  orders,  the  company  struck  tents,  crossed  the  Potomac 
on  Long  Bridge,  and  marched  to  Alexandria,  the  first 
volunteer  cavalry  in  the  field. 

Gen.  William  B.  Franklin  was  commanding  here,  and 
to  him  the  captain  reported.  In  Peyton  Grove,  on  the  west 
ern  side  of  the  town  the  company  pitched  their  tents  in 
Camp  Elizabeth.  Details  for  orderlies  at  headquarters 
were  made  daily,  and  those  detailed  took  pains  to  make  a 
neat  and  soldierly  appearance.  A  few  men  in  charge  of  a 
sergeant  were  frequently  sent  out  to  note  the  condition  of 
the  country. 

The  army  of  McDowell,  with  frequent  additions  of 


36  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

fresh  troops,  extended  from  Arlington  Heights  to  Alex 
andria.  The  line  of  the  pickets  was  not  at  that  time  very  far 
advanced.  The  Confederates  wandered  about  in  the  vicin 
ity  of  Falls  Church  and  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  and  for  a 
long  time  their  flag  could  be  seen  from  the  capitol,  raised 
above  their  strong  fort  on  Munson's  Hill. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  i8th  of  August,  the  Captain 
was  directed  to  take  out  the  entire  company.  Lieutenant 
Gibson  of  Gen.  Franklin's  staff  accompanied  him  and  also 
Dr.  Herrick,  a  surgeon.  The  reconnoissance  was  in  the 
direction  of  Pohick  Church,  a  few  miles  southwest  of  Mt. 
Vernon.  Three  men  as  an  advance  guard  preceded  the 
marching  column,  and  small  parties  were  thrown  out  on 
either  flank.  The  road  led  through  a  piece  of  thick  woods. 
As  the  advance  reached  a  point  where  they  could  see  the 
open  country  beyond  the  woods,  they  caught  sight  of  a  num 
ber  of  Confederates. 

A  little  trepidation  was  natural,  and  one  of  the  advance 
came  riding  back  in  haste  announcing  in  his  excitement  that 
a  whole  regiment  of  rebels  was  waiting  for  them  beyond 
the  woods.  Suddenly,  and  probably  without  any  word  of 
command,  the  company  wheeled  and  began  to  move  rapidly 
and  in  some  confusion  in  the  backward  direction.  Another 
of  the  advance  came  on,  and  his  excited  manner  tended  to 
quicken  the  pace  of  the  retreating  men.  The  captain  was 
now  riding  in  the  rear  of  his  company.  The  third  one  of 
the  advance  was  Oliver  B.  Knowles,  who  on  many  later 
occasions  proved  himself  cool,  self-possessed  and  apparently 
without  fear.  He  overtook  the  captain  and  said  he  had  been 
near  enough  the  rebels  to  see  them  all.  There  were  no  more 
of  them  than  there  were  in  their  own  company,  and  he  felt 
sure  that  our  men  could  whip  them.  The  captain  rode  on 
to  the  head  of  the  retreating  column,  halted  it,  and  repeated 
what  Knowles  had  told  him,  and  declared  his  purpose  to 


COMPANY  C  AT  THE  FRONT.     THE  FIRST  FIGHT.     37 

fight.  His  manner  imparted  courage  to  his  men,  and  they 
declared  their  willingness  to  obey  orders  and  follow  him. 
He  headed  the  column  the  other  way  and  himself,  with  his 
cousin,  Sergeant  W.  H.  Boyd,  and  Knowles  at  the  head, 
moved  forward.  The  men  drew  their  revolvers,  and, 
advancing  until  they  caught  sight  of  the  enemy  and  heard 
their  challenge,  at  the  captain's  word  dashed  forward 
with  loud  shouts  and  rapid  firing  of  their  revolvers.  The 
enemy  fired  one  volley  and  fled.  With  the  greatest  eager 
ness  the  captain  and  his  men  pursued  the  fleeing  Confed 
erates  for  a  few  miles  when  the  recall  was  sounded.  No 
prisoners  were  taken,  as  the  Confederates  had  fleet  horses. 
This  was  the  first  charge  by  Union  volunteer  cavalry.  One 
of  the  Union  men  was  killed,  Jacob  Erwin,  the  first  Union 
volunteer  cavalryman  killed  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

The  men  of  this  company  never  in  the  four  years  that 
followed  forgot  the  lesson  of  their  first  fight.  In  a  fight 
of  cavalry  against  cavalry  the  advantage  is  with  the  party 
that  moves  first.  It  is  difficult  to  withstand  the  impetus  and 
momentum  of  a  well-directed  cavalry  charge.  There  was 
always  a  stimulus  in  a  lusty  and  hearty  cheer.  The  men  of 
the  regiment  learned  that  in  a  charge,  the  sabre  was  more 
effective  than  the  revolver  or  the  carbine.  The  men  of  the 
company  were  highly  complimented  by  Gen.  McClellan  at  a 
review  of  Franklin's  command  on  the  22nd.  Oliver  B. 
Knowles,  before  the  war  was  over,  rose  to  the  rank  of  brevet 
brigadier  general. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
OFF  FOR  WASHINGTON. 

"VV  7HILE  Captain  Boyd's  company  was  thus  engaged  in 
*^  active  service  in  Virginia,  nine  companies  were  in 
New  York.  There  had  been  delay  in  providing  uniforms. 
Then  there  were  unsettled  obligations  on  account  of  sub 
sistence.  The  officers  wished  to  have  these  accounts  settled 
before  going  to  the  front.  The  German  officers  absolutely 
refused  to  go  until  these  matters  were  adjusted.  The  cost 
of  raising  and  subsisting  these  companies  had  been  about 
$8,000.  The  Union  Defense  Committee  had  raised  and  dis 
bursed  large  sums.  Voluntary  subscriptions  had  been  lib 
eral.  The  state  had  appropriated  many  thousands  of  dol 
lars.  But  the  calls  had  been  large  and  continual,  for  many 
regiments  had  been  raised.  Many  of  the  officers  of  this 
regiment  had  personally  expended  large  sums. 

In  the  latter  part  of  Buchanan's  administration  it  had 
been  necessary  for  the  government  to  borrow  largely.  This 
had  been  done  by  the  sale  of  bonds.  As  an  indication  of  the 
credit  of  the  government  at  this  time,  the  bids  for  these 
bonds  ranged  from  90  down  to  75  cents  on  the  dollar.  The 
government  refused  to  accept  less  than  90.  The  money 
thus  raised  had  carried  the  late  administration,  with  some 
thing  remaining  in  the  treasury.  Congress  would  not  meet 
in  special  session  till  July  4th.  President  Lincoln  without 
authority,  but  justified  by  the  emergency,  had  taken  more 


OFF  FOR  WASHINGTON.  39 

than  a  million  of  dollars  from  the  treasury,  and  sent  it  to 
New  York.  This  had  been  intrusted  to  a  few  reliable  men, 
one  of  whom  was  John  A.  Dix,  to  be  used  according  to  their 
judgment  in  equipping  the  forces  that  were  being  raised. 
But  such  had  been  the  expenses  incurred  that  there  were  no 
available  funds  for  meeting  the  obligations  of  this  regiment. 
Captain  F.  C.  Adams,  who  later  held  a  staff  office 
appointment,  but  was  not  connected  with  the  regiment,  was 
sent  to  Washington  to  see  what  could  be  done  in  regard  to 
these  unpaid  bills.  This  was  August  iQth.  Congress  had 
appropriated  $20,000,000  for  this  work  of  equipment.  Mr. 
Adams  carried  a  letter  to  Secretary  Seward.  The  secretary 
endorsed  the  letter  and  referred  Mr.  Adams  to  Quarter 
master  General  Meigs.  There  was  so  much  confusion  in 
the  department  owing  to  the  increased  amount  of  business, 
and  the  inexperience  of  new  appointees,  that  it  was  difficult 
to  get  business  promptly  attended  to.  Mr.  Adams  thought, 
that,  to  make  a  sure  thing  of  the  matter,  he  would  go  to  the 
President.  In  the  midst  of  all  the  cares  of  his  great  office  the 
President  gave  his  attention  to  the  condition  of  the  regiment, 
and  gave  Mr.  Adams  a  note  to  the  Secretary  of  War : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  August  iQth,  1861. 
Will  the  Secretary  of  War  see  Mr.  Adams,  and  take  measure  to 

have  the  regiment  come  forward  at  once. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

The  secretary  issued  the  order  for  the  regiment  to 
come,  but  he  did  not  see  clearly  how  to  dispose  of  the  matter 
of  the  indebtedness  that  had  been  incurred.  Mr.  Adams 
went  to  see  General  Meigs,  who  at  once  wrote  an  order 
directing  that  the  bills  for  supplies  furnished  be  presented  to 
him,  certified  by  the  quartermaster  and  colonel,  promising  to 
see  that  they  were  paid.  Mr.  Adams  who  had  thus  acted 
as  negotiator  returned  at  once  to  New  York  and  reported. 

The  25th  of  August  was  an  eventful  day.     We  were  to 


40  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

start  for  Washington.  The  morning  was  bright  and  beauti 
ful  and  everything  was  propitious.  The  men  were  in  high 
spirits  as  they  struck  and  folded  tents,  and  loaded  the  wagons 
with  equipage  and  baggage.  Personal  effects  had  accumu 
lated,  and  many  of  the  men  chose  to  have  their  effects,  even 
their  blankets,  transported,  rather  than  carry  them.  Finally, 
all  was  ready  and  the  command, — "Fall  in,"  was  given. 
From  Elm  Park  the  four  German  companies,  and  from 
Bellevue  Garden  the  five  English  companies  marched  to 
Union  Square. 

Here  the  colonel  was  to  be  presented  with  a  horse  and 
set  of  equipments.  "Lightfoot"  was  a  magnificent  horse, 
light,  dappled  gray,  with  a  full  flowing  mane  and  tail,  clean 
limbed,  perfectly  formed,  powerful,  intelligent  and  gentle. 
He  was  a  conspicuous  feature  in  every  parade  and  on  the 
march.  When  the  colonel  left  the  service  in  1864  ne  left  the 
horse  with  his  son,  Lieutenant  B.  F.  McReynolds.  After 
the  war  "Lightfoot"  was  bought  for  $1,000,  it  was  said,  by 
a  Philadelphia  merchant  as  a  riding  horse  for  the  ladies  of 
his  family. 

In  and  around  Union  Square  a  vast  multitude  had 
assembled.  In  parading  a  regiment  the  adjutant  is  a  con 
spicuous  officer.  The  adjutant  at  this  time  had  been  a  cap 
tain  in  the  preliminary  organization,  but  objections  had  been 
made,  and  at  the  muster  in  another  had  been  chosen  in  .his 
place.  But  he  had  done  what  he  could  in  raising  the  regi 
ment,  and  was  deemed  entitled  to  a  position,  and  had  been 
given  the  very  responsible  position  of  adjutant.  He  had 
served  in  the  English  army,  and  it  wras  supposed  that  his 
experience  would  be  valuable.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  phy 
sique,  tall,  with  broad  shoulders,  small  waist  and  hips,  erect, 
straight,  dark,  with  a  black  moustache  waxed  and  twisted  to 
sharp  points  reaching  far  out  to  either  side,  like  the  wings  of 
a  flying  sparrow.  He  wore  cavalier-like  boots,  square  toed, 


OFF  FOR  WASHINGTON.  41 

with  wide,  funnel-shaped  tops  reaching  to  his  thighs,  and 
large  steel  spurs  with  rowels  the  size  of  a  silver  dollar.  He 
wore  a  wide-bladed  sabre,  an  heirloom  in  his  family.  He 
was  an  accomplished  horseman,  and  was  not  entirely  uncon 
scious  of  his  good  points.  Consciousness  of  one's  abilities 
imparts  confidence,  and,  mixed  in  proper  proportions  with 
other  qualities,  is  an  element  of  military  success.  But  the 
adjutant  was  lacking  in  quickness  of  perception  of  oppor 
tunities  and  facility  in  adapting  himself  to  emergencies  and 
possibilities.  Exert  himself  as  he  would,  the  lines  of  the 
companies,  squadrons  and  battalions  that  should  have 
swung  around  easily  to  their  positions  on  the  sides  of  a  hol 
low  square,  as  at  the  motion  of  a  magic  hand,  would  get  in 
each  other's  way.  Finally  the  lines  were  formed  and  Mr. 
Richard  Busteed,  a  prominent  citizen,  in  behalf  of  several 
liberal  gentlemen,  made  a  speech  presenting  the  horse  and 
equipments  to  Col.  McReynolds.  To  this  speech  the  colonel 
fittingly  replied.  The  ceremonies  over,  the  companies 
formed  in  compact  column  marched  down  Broadway.  They 
presented  a  fine  appearance,  and  were  greeted  with  hearty 
cheers  by  the  mass  of  people  that  crowded  the  street  and 
waved  their  flags  from  every  window.  They  had  come  to 
know  the  regiment  well,  and  sent  it  off  with  best  wishes, 
for  in  its  ranks  and  among  its  officers  were  men  well  known 
and  esteemed  in  the  best  social  life  of  the  city.  Sad  leave- 
takings  were  mingled  with  the  high  hopes  that  were 
cherished. 

The  march  down  Broadway  was  an  ovation.  At  the 
foot  of  Courtland  street  the  companies  embarked  on  a 
steamer  for  Perth  Amboy,  by  the  channel  between  Staten 
Island  and  the  Jersey  shore.  After  the  long  standing  in 
line  during  the  speech-making  at  Union  Square,  and  the 
march,  which  together  had  taken  more  than  the  forenoon, 
the  men  were  in  condition  to  do  full  justice  to  an  ample 


4-2  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

lunch  of  sandwiches  dealt  out  by  Quartermaster  Bailey 
himself,  during  the  passage  by  boat.  At  Perth  Amboy  a 
train  was  in  readiness.  Box  cars  had  been  fitted  up  with 
plain  board  seats  arranged  to  hold  as  many  men  as  possible. 
For  ventilation  big  holes  had  been  made  in  the  sides  and 
ends  of  the  cars.  The  train  was  a  slow  one.  At  every 
house  along  the  line  of  the  road  flags  were  displayed,  and 
everywhere  groups  of  people  cheered  the  passing  train.  A 
night  lunch  was  waiting  in  Philadelphia.  There  were  then 
no  sleeping  cars  with  luxurious  berths  provided  for  the  all- 
night  ride,  and  the  men  made  themselves  as  comfortable  as 
possible  on  the  board  seats.  A  bright  morning  followed. 
While  crossing  the  open  country  in  the  northern  part  of 
Delaware  there  was  an  accident  to  the  engine,  and  the  train 
stopped.  Immediately  the  men  were  out  of  their  close  and 
cramped  quarters  and  spreading  themselves  in  every  direc 
tion  over  the  fields.  The  chance  to  exercise  was  a  relief. 
At  some  distance  across  the  fields  wras  a  fine  country  man 
sion,  and  soon  four  or  five  of  the  men  were  there — for  what 
they  had  come  they  could  hardly  tell.  It  was  a  wealthy  and 
hospitable  family,  and  they  insisted  on  supplying  their  un 
expected  morning  callers  with  a  quickly  prepared  lunch  of 
bread,  ham  and  coffee.  Their  sociable  presence  added  to 
the  pleasure  of  the  breakfast.  Proffered  payment  was  de 
clined.  Hearty  thanks  were  returned  for  the  generous 
entertainment.  But  our  friend  O'Brien  could  never  be  out 
done  in  his  sweeping  and  gracious  bows  and  profusion  of 
compliments.  This  was  our  first  acquaintance  in  a  home 
on  the  southern  soil — a  home  of  culture,  refinement  and 
hospitality.  But  the  repeated  and  prolonged  whistle  of  the 
repaired  engine  sounded  the  recall,  and  soon  the  loaded  train 

moved  on. 

Engines  were  not  allowed  to  pass  through  the  city  of 
Baltimore.     On  the  arrival  of  a  passenger  train  at  either 


OFF  FOR  WASHINGTON.  43 

station,  the  engine  was  detached,  then  to  each  coach,  one 
after  another,  six  powerful  horses  were  hitched,  tandem, 
and  quickly  driven  to  the  other  station,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  city.  The  box  cars  of  our  train  were  not  transferred 
in  this  way.  The  companies  were  unloaded,  and  forming 
in  column,  marched  across  the  city.  The  mob  element  had 
remembered  the  lesson  taught  by  the  Sixth  Massachusetts 
regiment  on  the  igth  of  April,  and  there  were  no  open  signs 
of  disloyalty.  Boarding  another  train  of  box  cars  we  were 
on  our  way  to  Washington,  noting  along  the  way  the 
defences  that  had  been  made  by  the  Seventh  New  York,  dur 
ing  its  month's  service,  for  the  protection  of  the  road. 
Early  in  the  night  we  reached  Washington,  and  stayed  the 
best  we  could  in  the  depot  and  freight  buildings,  sleeping 
on  the  floor  with  a  newspaper  for  a  blanket. 

In  the  morning  of  August  27  the  men  awoke  to  look 
upon  the  capitol.  There  the  great  building  stood,  with  its 
unfinished  dome  surrounded  by  a  mass  of  scaffolding,  a 
type  of  the  uncompleted  condition  of  the  Republic.  The 
doors  were  open  and  soon  the  men  were  wrandering  through 
its  long  halls  and  corridors.  They  were  allowed  the  priv 
ilege  of  resting  in  the  chambers  of  congress,  as  the  houses 
were  not  in  session.  Many  of  the  rooms  in  the  basement 
were  used  as  bakeries  for  supplying  the  camps  with  bread. 
Sight  seeing  had  to  be  postponed,  when,  the  arrival  of  the 
regiment  having  been  reported  at  the  proper  headquarters 
and  orders  received,  the  companies  formed  and  took  up  their 
march  on  Pennsylvania  avenue  to  Seventh  street,  and  up 
that  street  a  mile  and  a  half  to  a  part  of  the  city  now  known 
as  Le  Droit  Park.  This  section,  now  well  built  up,  was 
then  open  country,  the  farm  of  Mr.  Moore.  In  a  grove  of 
scattering  scrub  oaks  near  the  present  intersection  of  Fourth 
and  Wilson  streets,  the  camp  was  established  and  named 
Camp  Meigs. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON. 

\/l  R.  and  Mrs.  Moore  and  their  two  daughters,  with  two 
•L  *•  or  three  colored  servants,  were  well-to-do  and  hos 
pitable  people  of  Union  sympathies.  Some  of  the  officers 
messed  in  the  house,  and  a  few,  averse  to  living  in  a  tent, 
had  rooms  here.  On  a  recent  visit  the  writer  found  Mrs. 
Moore  still  living,  about  eighty-five  years  of  age,  and  her 
two  daughters  with  her.  Her  mind  was  clear,  and  her 
memory  of  the  officers  and  some  of  the  men  very  accurate, 
and  not  unkind,  although  there  were  at  that  time  many 
things  that  were  annoying  to  the  family. 

On  the  3rd  of  September  the  Grand  Rapids  Company 
(K)  joined  those  encamped  on  Moore's  farm.  They  were 
mostly  stalwart  Western  men.  They  had  come  direct  from 
home.  With  many  of  them  it  was  their  first  experience 
away  from  home,  and  soon  there  were  cases  of  homesick 
ness  among  them,  stalwart  and  patriotic  though  they  were. 
It  became  a  serious  thing,  until  one  of  their  number,  Eras- 
tus  Noble,  gifted  with  an  ability  to  write  rhymes,  composed 
a  number  of  stanzas  touching  in  a  humorous  way  on  the 
traits  of  officers  and  men,  and  the  peculiarities  of  their  new 
conditions,  closing,  with  the  refrain 

"And  every  time  you  face  about 
You  turn  upon  your  heel." 

He  soon  had  the  men  heartily  singing  his  stanzas  and 
making  merry  over  their  hardships.  "Music  hath  charms." 
This  was  better  than  a  surgeon's  prescription,  and  they  soon 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON. 


proved  to  be  some  of  the  best  men  in  the  regiment.     On 
the  loth  of  September  Company  M,  that  had  remained  in 
New  York  to  fill  up  its  ranks  came  on,  and  the  regiment 
with  its  twelve  companies  was  complete. 
The  following  were  the  officers : 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 
Colonel — ANDREW  T.  MCREYNOLDS. 
Lieutenant   Colonel — FREDERICK  VON   SCHICKFUSS. 
First  Major — CHARLES  H.  OGLE. 
Second  Major — ALONZO  W.  ADAMS. 
Third  Major — AUGUST  HAURAND. 
Adjutant — JENYNS   C.   BATTERSBY. 
Quartermaster — EZRA    H.  BAILEY. 
Surgeon — FREDERICK  ELLIOTT. 
Assistant  Surgeon — GEORGE  M.  BEAKS. 
Chaplain — REV.    CHARLES  M.  RIGHL.Y. 

COMPANY  OR  LINE  OFFICERS. 


COMPANY  A. 
Captain — Abram  Jones. 
First  Lieut.— Thomas   R.    Leavitt. 
Second  Lieut. — Cliff.  Thomson. 

COMPANY  B. 

Captain — Henry  B.  Todd. 
First  Lieut. — John  Ennis. 
Second  Lieut. — Richard  H.  Lee. 

COMPANY  C. 
Captain— Wm.  H.  Boyd. 
First  Lieut. — Wm.  W.  Hanson. 
Second  Lieut. — Jas.  H.  Stevenson. 

COMPANY  D. 

Captain — Daniel  H.  Harkins. 
First  Lieut. — Samuel  C.  Sprague. 
Second  Lieut. — James  A.  Duffy. 

COMPANY  E. 

Captain — Lambert  J.  Simons. 
First  Lieut. — J.  D.  Kryniski. 
Second  Lieut. — Adolph     Schmidt. 

COMPANY  F. 

Captain — David    A.    Bennett. 
First  Lieut.— Richard  P.  Thomas. 
Second  Lieut.— Charles    Woodruff. 


COMPANY  G. 

Captain — Frederick    Hendricks. 
First  Lieut. — Emil   Coenen. 
Second  Lieut. — F.  F.  Schmidt. 

COMPANY  H. 

Captain — Joseph  H.  Stearns. 
First  Lieut. — Harry  B.  Hidden. 
Second  Lieut. — David  R.  Disbrow. 

COMPANY  I. 

Captain — Count  Ferdinand  Stosch. 
First  Lieut.— Robert  H.  O.  Hertzog. 
Second  Lieut. — A.  Von  Lengerki. 

COMPANY  K. 

Captain — Anson  N.  Norton. 
First  Lieut. — Henry  W.  Granger. 
Second  Lieut. — Frank  G.  Martindale. 

COMPANY  L. 
Captain — Gustav  Otto. 
First  Lieut. — Franz  Passegger. 
Second  Lieut. — Frederick  Daber. 

COMPANY  M. 

Captain — Thomas  J.  Lord. 
First  Lieut. — Rich'd  G.  Prendergast. 
Second    Lieut. — Frederick  A.  Nims. 


46  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
E  Pluribits  Unum. 

To  all  who  shall  see  these  presents  greeting: 

Know  ye,  that  reposing  special  trust  and  confidence  in  the  patrio 
tism,  valor,  fidelity  and  abilities  of  Andrew  T.  McReynolds,  I  do 
appoint  him  Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  of  Cavalry  Volunteers  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States;  to  rank  as  such  from  the  thirteenth 
day  of  September,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one.  He  is  therefore 
carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  Colonel  by  doing 
and  performing  all  manner  of  things  thereunto  belonging.  And  I  do 
strictly  charge,  and  require  all  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command 
to  be  obedient  to  his  orders  as  Colonel,  and  he  is  to  observe  and  follow 
such  orders  and  directions  from  time  to  time,  as  he  shall  receive  from 
me,  or  the  future  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  or  of 
the  General,  or  other  superior  officers  set  over  him,  according  to  the 
rules  and  discipline  of  war.  This  commission  to  continue  in  force 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  for  the  time 
being. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  first  day  of 
January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
two,  and  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 

States. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
By  the  President, 

SIMON  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War. 

This  was  the  colonel's  commission. 

The  raising  of  this  regiment  had  been  authorized  di 
rectly  by  the  President,  and  was  not  under  the  authority 
of  any  state.  The  colonel  received  his  commission  from 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  he  was  the  only 
colonel  of  volunteers  so  commissioned.  When  the  subject 
of  commissioning  the  officers  was  brought  before  the  secre 
tary  of  war,  it  was  decided  that  officers  of  the  volunteers 
must  be  commissioned  by  the  governor  of  the  state  from 
which  they  came.  As  ten  companies  were  raised  in  New 
York,  the  entire  regiment  was  assigned  to  that  state, 
although  Pennsylvania  had  furnished  one  company  and 
Michigan  another.  It  was  thereafter  known  as  the  First 
New  York  (Lincoln)  Cavalry. 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  47 

General  Storieman  was  chief  of  cavalry  on  the 
staff  of  General  McClellan.  It  was  no  easy  work  that  he 
had  to  do.  Horses,  horse  equipments  and  arms  were  to  be 
supplied.  These  were  not  all  readily  obtainable.  They 
were  furnished  in  installments. 

The  papers  of  the  time  were  full  of  complaints  as  to 
the  quality  of  various  supplies,  and  the  way  in  which  con 
tracts  were  filled.  Possibly  a  few  contractors  were  influ 
enced  by  the  predictions  that  the  war  would  be  over  in  three 
months,  and  were  led  to  believe  that  it  would  answer  all 
purposes  if  the  clothing  furnished  should  wear  that  length 
of  time.  Possibly  some  of  those  who  purchased,  and  some 
of  the  inspectors  who  "passed"  inferior  horses  thought 
these  would  do  well  enough  for  "breaking"  purposes.  Some 
of  the  men  as  well  as  the  horses  had  to  be  "broken  in,"  for 
it  was  suspected  that  a  few  of  them  had  never  mounted  a 
horse  before. 

.While  there  were  few  high  bred  horses  among  those 
furnished,  yet  the  most  of  them  were  good,  serviceable  ani 
mals.  Some  of  them  well  cared  for  were  kept  in  the  service 
till  near  the  close  of  the  war.  Quite  a  number  of  the  men 
preferred  to  own  their  horses.  The  proper  care  of  his 
horse  is  an  important  part  of  the  cavalryman's  duty,  and 
there  were  many  in  the  ranks  who  needed  instruction.  The 
officers  who  had  seen  service  were  of  advantage,  and  while 
there  were  occasional  unpleasant  experiences,  the  men  made 
good  progress  in  mounted  drill. 

The  ground  first  selected  for  the  camp  \vas  not  well 
adapted  for  mounted  drill,  and  on  the  iQth  of  September, 
the  camp  was  moved  to  Meridian  Hill, — high,  wide  grounds 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Fifteenth  street,  and  not  far  from 
the  present  Zoological  Park.  Rock  Creek  afforded  a  con 
venient  watering  place. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Von  Schickfuss  established  schools 


4-8  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  instruction  for  the  officers.  He  understood  his  business, 
and  he  devoted  himself  to  the  promotion  of  thorough  drill 
and  discipline  throughout  the  regiment. 

Occasionally  a  detail  was  ordered  to  cross  the  river  and 
take  a  ride  out  in  Virginia  beyond  the  pickets.  To  be 
allowed  to  go  was  considered  a  privilege.  Such  a  detail 
one  day  was  to  be  made  up  from  Company  K, — all  who 
had  received  horses  and  arms.  Some  of  the  arms  furnished 
were  old  and  out  of  order. 

One  of  the  company  was  Edwin  F.  Savacool,  a  slight- 
built  boy  with  sandy  hair  and  complexion.  He  had  lived  at 
Marshall,  Mich.  His  widowed  mother  and  the  rest  of  the 
family  begged  him  not  to  enlist.  It  was  not  easy  for  him 
to  resist  their  entreaties,  but  it  was  harder  to  resist  the 
inclination  to  go.  With  others  he  found  his  way  to  Grand 
Rapids  where  Captain  Norton  was  raising  his  company  of 
cavalry.  When  he  presented  himself  for  enlistment  the 
captain  is  said  to  have  laughed  at  him.  It  was  ridiculous, — 
so  young  and  slender  a  boy  for  a  cavalryman.  He  was  re 
jected, — too  young  and  small.  But  he  found  friends, 
Warren,  Bentley,  and  Martindale,  who  interceded  for  him. 
He  was  smuggled  into  the  rear  rank  and  mustered  in, — the 
happiest  fellow  among  them  all.  It  did  not  occur  to  any 
one  that  he  would  yet  be  captain  of  the  company. 

He  made  himself  useful  in  every  possible  way.  He 
was  quiet,  cheerful,  observing  and  modest  as  a  girl  of  ten. 
He  wanted  to  go  on  this  detail  into  Virginia.  He  tried  to 
get  some  one  of  those  detailed  to  stay  home  and  let  him 
go  in  his  place.  No  one  would  change  with  him.  He 
managed  to  get  a  horse;  now  if  he  only  could  find  some 
arms.  Among  the  discarded  arms  he  found  an  empty  scab 
bard  and  improvised  a  belt.  Then  he  found  the  rusty  stub 
end  of  an  old  broken  sabre, — the  hilt  and  six  or  eight  inches 
of  the  blade.  Now  he  could  show  a  hilt,  at  least.  As 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  49 

happy  as  could  be  he  reported  himself  mounted,  armed  and 
equipped,  and  took  his  place  in  line  with  the  rest.  But  he 
had  not  counted  on  an  inspection.  Every  detail  must  be  in 
spected  before  going  on  duty.  The  order  was, — "Draw, — " 
and  "Present  sabres."  The  "presented"  stub  provoked  roars 
of  laughter.  That  poor  fellow  was  almost  overwhelmed. 
But  everybody  begged  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  go  along, 
and  go  he  did. 

While  located  here  the  men  were  allowed  many  priv 
ileges  in  visiting  the  places  of  interest  in  the  city.  In  the 
two  houses  of  congress  were  many  eminent  men,  and  it  was 
a  privilege  to  look  in  upon  the  sessions.  Important  ques 
tions  were  being  considered.  These  questions  were  ably 
debated.  The  machinery  of  government  was  observed. 
Notice  was  taken  of  the  gradual  change  of  opinion  among 
the  people  throughout  the  country.  A  single  utterance  of 
some  clear,  strong-minded  statesman  would  exert  wide  in 
fluence  throughout  the  country,  as  it  suggested  discussion  in 
the  journals  of  the  day.  And  the  army  was  not  a  mass  of 
unthinking  men.  Much  correspondence  from  the  camp 
appeared  in  the  newspapers.  The  New  York  Tribune  gen 
erously  offered  to  send  a  number  of  copies  of  its  semi-weekly 
edition  to  the  regiment,  and  these  were  passed  along  from 
tent  to  tent,  and  closely  read.  It  was  something  worth 
recording  when  one  had  the  opportunity  to  see  the  Presi 
dent,  perhaps  to  shake  hands  with  him,  and  he  greeted 
everyone  who  came  into  his  presence  with  unaffected 
cordiality. 

The  defeat  at  Bull  Run  had  a  somewhat  demoralizing 
effect  on  McDowell's  army.  It  was  only  temporary,  how 
ever.  The  men  as  individuals  quickly  recovered  their  spirit. 
Horace  Greeley  who  in  the  columns  of  the  Tribune  had 
sounded  the  cry,  "On  to  Richmond,"  more  loudly  than  any 
one  else — now  wrote  to  President  Lincoln,  speaking  of  the 


50  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

hundreds  of  brave  men  who  were  "lying  yet  unburied  on 
the  field  of  Bull  Run,"  and  urging  him  to  make  peace  with 
the  rebels  on  the  best  terms  obtainable.  This  was  not  the 
feeling  among  the  men,  even  in  the  defeated  army.  The 
event  seemed  to  strengthen  the  people  in  their  purpose  to 
put  down  the  rebellion.  New  forces  of  volunteers  gathered 
around  Washington.  They  kept  coming.  The  secretary 
of  war  had  evidently  awakened  from  his  belief  that  the  war 
would  be  over  in  ninety  days,  and  while  he  was  not  at  all 
efficient  himself,  he  was  not  interfering  with  others  who 
were  trying  to  do  effective  service. 

General  McClellan  was  commander-in-chief.  His  suc 
cess  in  his  brief  campaign  in  West  Virginia,  although  a 
large  part  of  the  credit  was  due  to  his  subordinates,  gave 
him  a  prestige  that  was  regarded  as  an  assurance  of  victory 
in  the  conflict  that  was  to  come.  To  make  an  organized 
and  disciplined  army  out  of  the  zealous  but  untrained  vol 
unteers  was  the  purpose  of  the  new  commander,  and  to 
this  object  he  devoted  all  his  energies.  Confidence  in  the 
ability  to  win  is  an  important  element  in  winning.  An 
officer  in  one  of  the  regiments  had  publicly  expressed  the 
opinion  that  the  government  would  not  succeed  in  suppress 
ing  the  rebellion.  This  came  to  the  knowledge  of  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  who  promptly  dismissed  the  officer  in  disgrace 
from  the  service.  There  must  be  no  doubting,  half-hearted 
way  of  doing  the  work  that  had  to  be  done.  The  spirit  of 
the  commander  becomes  the  spirit  of  the  army. 

As  a  means  of  inspiring  confidence  among  the  men 
General  McClellan  visited  the  camps,  took  notice  of  the 
drills,  and  commended  a  thing  well  done.  He  held  a  suc 
cession  of  great  reviews.  The  first  of  these  was  held  on  the 
8th  of  October  in  a  wide  level  plain  east  of  the  capitol. 
The  forces  reviewed  were  mostly  artillery  and  cavalry. 
These  were  arranged  in  long  lines,  and  the  general,  followed 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  51 

by  his  brilliant  staff  and  a  number  of  invited  general  offi 
cers  mounted  on  superb  horses,  and  his  body  guard  of  cav 
alry,  rode  rapidly  along  in  front  of  each  line.  The  general 
with  his  quick,  nervous,  graceful  manner,  seeming  to  notice 
each  soldier  as  he  rode  past,  recognizing  the  compliment  of 
a  cheer  by  lifting  his  cap,  excited  the  greatest  enthusiasm. 
Then  after  he  had  taken  his  place  on  one  side  of  the  field  a 
little  in  advance  of  the  line  of  his  staff  and  other  attendants, 
the  batteries  of  artillery  and  squadrons  of  cavalry,  wheeling 
from  the  right  of  the  lines,  marched  in  review  before  him. 
The  batteries  with  their  burnished  guns,  each  gun  carriage 
and  caisson  drawn  by  six  horses,  the  squadrons  of  cavalry 
with  bright  sabres,  fluttering  guidons,  and  waving  flags, 
made  an  imposing  appearance.  A  vast  multitude  in  car 
riages,  on  horseback  and  on  foot  had  assembled  to  witness 
the  review.  Each  man  felt  that  he  was  a  part  of  a  mighty 
host,  and  that  upon  this  host  the  eyes  of  the  nation  were 
resting  with  high  hopes  and  expectations.  But  even  here 
the  inefficiency  because  of  the  want  of  thorough  drill  and 
discipline  could  be  observed.  There  was  some  lack  of  order 
in  wheeling  and  marching.  In  one  instance  there  was  so 
much  confusion  and  the  officers  were  so  wanting  in  the 
ability  to  quietly  restore  order,  that  an  aide  on  the  general's 
staff  was  sent  to  order  the  regiment  off  the  field  of  review 
and  back  to  its  camp.  The  men  felt  the  humiliation  deeply. 
Every  man  had  a  feeling  of  pride  in  the  discipline  and  good 
name  of  the  organization  to  which  he  belonged.  Even  the 
horses  seemed  to  understand  the  differences  between  strict 
discipline  and  the  lack  of  it.  The  presence  of  a  master 
made  itself  felt  in  promptness  in  speech  and  action,  and  in 
the  ability  to  see,  without  apparent  effort,  all  that  was  going 
on.  It  was  not  the  blustering,  threatening  captain,  but  the 
quiet,  observing  one  that  had  the  best  company. 

On  the  loth  of  October  we  broke  camp,  marched  across 


52  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Long  Bridge,  and  made  a  new  camp  in  an  open  field  near 
Ball's  Cross  Roads,  back  of  Arlington  Heights. 

That  part  of  Virginia  opposite  Washington  was  a  pleas 
ant  land  to  look  upon.  There  were  many  creeks,  tributaries 
to  larger  streams  that  flowed  into  the  Potomac.  There 
were  prominent  broad-topped,  rounded  hills,  and  wide  open 
fields.  Portions  were  covered  with  heavy  forests  of  oak, 
chestnut  and  pine.  The  soil  was  generally  a  yellowish  or 
reddish  clay,  in  places  gravelly.  This  soil  under  good  cul 
tivation  had  once  borne  good  crops.  Many  of  the  farms 
that  had  once  been  parts  of  large  estates,  had  become  ex 
hausted  by  the  raising  of  tobacco,  and  on  these  neglected 
lands  there  had  grown  up  thickets  of  second  growth  pines, 
so  dense  that  a  horseman  could  not  ride  through  them,  and 
even  men  on  foot  could  with  difficulty  work  their  way 
through.  One  could  not  see  beyond  a  short  distance  into 
these  young  forests.  Here  and  there  was  a  fine  residence, 
but  many  of  the  houses  were  small  and  old,  and  their  occu 
pants  poor  people. 

The  location  of  the  camp  was  four  or  five  miles  from 
Washington,  and  in  this  direction  the  outmost  camp.  Some 
strong  earth  forts  had  been  built  in  a  semi-circle  from  above 
Arlington  to  a  point  south  of  Alexandria.  How  far  away 
the  enemy  was  we  did  not  know.  But  the  Union  picket  line 
was  supposed  to  be  two  or  three  miles  beyond,  and  from 
some  picket  posts  on  high  hills  the  posts  of  the  enemy  on 
distant  hills  could  be  seen.  No  collision  was  considered 
probable  except  between  hostile  scouting  parties.  But 
hardly  had  the  men  made  themselves  comfortable  for  the 
night  in  their  new  camp  when  it  was  reported  that  an  attack 
was  expected;  a  body  of  Confederates  was  approaching. 
The  alarm  spread  quickly  through  the  camp.  Orders 
were  given  to  "turn  out  and  saddle  up."  The  orders  were 
promptly  obeyed  amid  considerable  excitement.  The  cause 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  53 

of  the  alarm  was  afterward  understood.  One  of  the  majors 
was  a  man  of  large  physical  proportions,  with  an  assurance 
of  at  least  equal  proportions.  On  his  large  head  was  a  mass 
of  thick  bushy  hair  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  combing 
upwards  with  his  fingers,  and  he  wore  a  moderately  large 
"bay  window"  in  front.  He  had  aspired  to  the  captaincy  of 
Company  A,  but  that  company  had  preferred  another.  Dis 
appointed  elsewhere  he  had  sought  a  lieutenantcy  in  one  of 
the  German  companies,  but  the  proposition  had  been  met 
with  a  vehement  "Nein!  Nein!"  from  the  ranks.  By 
plausible  representations  that  he  wanted  the  office  only  for 
a  short  time  and  as  a  means  of  securing  a  higher  position 
elsewhere,  the  Germans  were  persuaded  to  consent  to  the 
arrangement.  On  the  announcement  of  the  field  and  staff, 
to  the  surprise  of  the  officers  and  men  he  was  named  one 
of  the  majors.  This  announcement  was  met  by  a  vigorous 
and  formal  protest  from  the  other  officers,  but  without  avail. 
An  appeal  was  made  to  higher  authorities,  but  he  succeeded 
in  holding  his  position.  He  spoke  often  and  much  of  his 
acquaintance  and  influence  with  high  officials,  and  seemed 
to  have  some  means  of  a  political  nature  of  advancing  him 
self,  not  generally  known.  He  lacked  judgment  and  com 
mon  sense,  and  was  the  object  of  many  a  joke  and  much 
ridicule. 

On  the  start  from  Meridian  Hill  he  was  not  on  hand, 
and  the  senior  captain  commanded  his  battalion.  Later, 
followed  by  an  orderly  and  a  colored  servant,  he  had  over 
taken  the  column  and  was  greeted  with  loud  laughter  as 
he  rode  forward  and  back  trying  to  find  his  proper  place. 
Finally,  the  colonel,  in  order  to  stop  these  unseemly  doings, 
sent  him  forward  to  the  camp  to  look  after  matters  there. 
But  the  major,  disliking  the  idea  of  sleeping  on  the  cold 
ground,  sought  other  quarters,  and  had  found,  some  distance 
beyond  the  camp,  a  lowly  house  occupied  by  a  poor  woman 


54  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

whose  husband  was  in  the  Confederate  army.  Sometime 
after  nightfall  some  officers  and  men  had  gone  out  as  a 
patrol,  and  as  an  after  thought,  concluded  to  look  for  the 
missing  major.  Seeing  him  through  the  lighted  window 
they  planned  a  joke.  While  the  main  body  remained  in 
the  road,  a  few  knocked  vigorously  at  the  door,  representing 
themselves  as  Confederates  and  demanding  the  surrender 
of  the  Union  officer  who  was  hiding  there,  for  the  major 
and  his  attendants  had  quickly  concealed  themselves.  The 
poor  woman  welcomed  the  supposed  companions  of  her 
husband.  The  major  was  compelled  to  come  out  of  his  un 
comfortable  hiding  place,  when,  recognizing  the  members 
of  his  own  regiment  he  protested  against  such  "disrespect 
ful  treatment  of  a  superior  officer."  This  was  the  supposed 
Confederate  party  that  was  threatening  an  attack  on  the 
camp.  Like  the  Rumor  of  the  Aeneid,  the  report  had 
traveled  fast  and  had  grown  as  it  traveled. 

The  locality  of  this  camp  was  found  unfavorable,  and 
on  the  2ist  of  October  a  new  place  was  selected  about  two 
miles  to  the  northwest,  in  a  wide  meadow  land  on  what  was 
known  as  Brown's  farm. 

A  sergeant  with  an  assistant  was  sent  on  in  advance 
to  lay  out  the  camp.  He  had  set  stakes  to  mark  the  com 
pany  lines  and  the  tents  of  the  field  and  staff,  and  had 
roughly  drawn  on  paper  the  plan  of  the  camp.  Major 
Charles  H.  Ogle  rode  upon  the  ground  at  the  head  of  his 
battalion.  He  was  a  West  Point  graduate,  a  trained  and 
competent  soldier,  but  given  to  drinking  habits.  As  the 
companies  had  arrived  the  sergeant  had  directed  each  to  its 
place,  and  had  received  a  respectful  "Thank  you."  especially 
from  the  German  officers.  But  Major  Ogle  was  in  no  con 
dition  to  be  civil.  In  response  to  his  question  as  to  where 
his  companies  were  to  go,  the  sergeant,  referring  to  his  plan 
of  the  camp,  pointed  to  a  tree  and  some  stakes  that  marked 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  55 

the  place  for  his  companies.  With  a  perfect  torrent  of  oaths 
and  abuse,  and  with  a  violent  motion  of  his  arm  that  indi 
cated  the  way  in  which  he  would  have  liked  to  take  off  the 
sergeant's  head  if  he  had  had  his  sabre  in  his  hand,  said,  "I 
don't  want  anything  of  your — paper!  Mount  your  horse 
and  show  me  where  to  go !"  The  sergeant  mounted  his 
horse,  and  rode  to  the  head  of  one  of  the  lines  and  called  to 
the  major  that  there  was  the  line  of  his  first  company.  After 
another  storm  of  abuse  from  the  major  the  sergeant  went 
to  locate  the  others. 

With  the  camp  well  pitched  there  came  a  long,  cold, 
drizzling  rain,  and  the  men  kept  themselves  in  their  small 
A  tents.  The  rain  tightened  up  the  canvas  so  that  it  made 
a  good  shelter.  But  with  only  a  little  straw  on  the  damp, 
cold  ground  and  a  few  blankets,  the  quarters  were  anything 
but  comfortable.  There  could  be  no  drilling.  Sufficient 
supplies  could  not  be  had.  The  horses  had  to  stand  tied  to 
the  picket  ropes  without  shelter,  shivering,  and  part  of  the 
time  without  forage.  Tlie  camp  became  a  field  of  mud. 

October  24th  orders  wrere  received  to  move  the  camp  to 
some  gravelly  hill  sides  on  Four  Mile  Run,  near  Arlington 
Mills,  the  headquarters  of  General  Palmer,  chief  of  cavalry. 
Again  the  engineer  sergeant  with  his  assistant  was  sent  on 
to  lay  out  the  camp.  He  made  up  his  mind  to  take  philo 
sophically  whatever  abuse  was  offered  him. 

Captain  Thomas  J.  Lord  of  Company  M  was  a  gentle 
man  whose  appearance  and  manner  would  indicate  that  he 
was  a  personage  of  very  considerable  importance,  but  not  a 
man  of  robust,  martial  vigor.  He  wrore  heavy,  long,  pend 
ent  side  whiskers,  with  his  lower  middle  face  smooth 
shaven.  He  seemed  little  inclined  to  hold  familiar  inter 
course  with  enlisted  men.  After  some  months  of  service 
he  was  discharged  for  disability.  It  fell  to  the  lot  of 
Richard  G.  Prendergast  to  meet  the  men  when  necessary. 


56  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

He  was  a  young  Englishman,  tall  and  slim,  with  sandy 
complexion,  hair  and  mustache.  He  had  a  peculiar  obliq 
uity  of  speech.  He  pronounced  the  letter  d  as  g,  and  r  as  w. 
He  was  much  given  to  the  use  of  expletives,  and  seemed  to 
think  some  distance  should  be  observed  between  the  officers 
and  men  in  the  ranks. 

The  line  of  his  company  was  pointed  out  to  the  lieu 
tenant,  but  it  did  not  quite  suit  him,  and  he  changed  it  and 
also  the  place  for  his  own  tent.  The  sergeant  politely  in 
formed  him  that  he  was  not  pitching  his  tent  in  the  right 
place,  and  again  pointed  out  the  company  line.  As  he  was 
moving  away  the  lieutenant  followed  him  with  a  number 
of  emphatic  expressions,  wishing  that  "that  gam  sergeant 
would  ming  his  own  business."  The  sergeant  understand 
ing  that  it  was  "his  business"  to  see  that  the  camp  was 
properly  arranged,  soon  returned  and  informed  the  lieu 
tenant  that  according  to  the  plan  of  a  camp  prescribed  by  the 
army  regulations  his  tent  was  to  go  there,  and  there  was  to 
be  the  company  line.  One  could  afford  to  be  good  natured 
when  backed  by  such  authority.  The  lieutenant  was  some 
what  surprised,  but  gracefully  yielded,  and  even  came  after 
ward  to  the  sergeant  to  ask  for  some  more  specific  direc 
tions  that  he  had  not  at  first  understood.  He  proved  a 
good  fighter,  and  near  the  end  of  the  war  was  killed  while 
leading  a  daring  charge. 

Company  C,  Captain  Boyd,  after  crossing  the  Potomac 
August  7th,  had  remained  at  Alexandria  attached  to  the 
command  of  Gen.  Franklin.  August  iSth  they  had  their 
first  fight,  and  won  their  first  victory.  Franklin's  command 
was  made  up  of  the  I5th,  i8th,  3ist  and  32110!  regiments 
of  N.  Y.  infantry,  Arnold's  battery  of  regular  artillery,  and 
Boyd's  company  of  cavalry.  August  28th  these  forces 
moved  out  about  three  miles  from  Alexandria  and  en 
camped  near  Fairfax  Seminary,  an  Episcopal  theological 


HENRY  B.  HIDDEN. 


ABRAM   JONES. 


CHARLES  R.  PETERSON. 


PETERSON'S   SABRE  CLASP. 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  57 

school.  In  the  vicinity  were  the  brigades  of  Slocum,  New 
ton  and  Kearney.  The  four  brigades  were  combined  into 
the  Alexandria  division  with  Franklin  in  command.  The 
cavalry  company  was  attached  to  division  headquarters, 
with  details  reporting  regularly  as  mounted  orderlies  to  the 
brigade  commanders. 

The  Union  out-post  on  the  Leesburg  turnpike  was  at 
Bailey's  Cross  Roads.  Mason's,  Upton's,  and  Munson's 
Hills  were  occupied  by  the;  Confederates  who  had  con 
structed  upon  them  earth  works.  The  Confederate  flag 
over  the  fort  on  Munson's  Hill  was  a  conspicuous  object 
easily  seen  from  the  dome  of  the  capitol.  The  opposing 
picket  lines  were  at  no  great  distance  apart.  The  pickets 
could  call  to  each  other,  and  there  was  occasionally  an  ex 
change  of  shots.  A  cannon  ball  shattered  the  corner  of  the 
house  at  Bailey's  Cross  Roads.  An  entire  brigade  would 
go  out  to  the  front  for  two  or  three  days.  The  men  were 
becoming  well  drilled  and  accustomed  to  skirmish  firing. 
Gen.  McClellan's  frequent  appearance  was  greeted  with 
enthusiasm,  and  inspired  confidence.  After  awhile  the 
Confederates  abandoned  their  line  of  forts,  and  our  picket 
line  was  advanced. 

Thus  far  Company  C  had  been  detached  from  the  rest 
of  the  companies.  But  on  the  28th  of  October  the  regiment 
at  Arlington  Mills  broke  camp.  Colonel  McReynolds  with 
five  companies  joined  Gen.  Franklin,  and  with  Company  C, 
established  Camp  Kearney.  Lieut.  Col.  Von  Schickfuss 
with  the  other  six, — B,  F,  and  the  four  German  companies — 
reported  to  Gen.  Heintzelman  at  Fort  Lyon,  below  Alex 
andria. 

This  fort  was  on  the  brow  of  a  high  table  land.  Be 
tween  the  high  bluff  on  which  the  fort  was  built  and  the  city, 
lay  the  wide  valley  of  Hunter's  Run  into  which  flowed 
Cameron  Run.  The  fort  was  one  of  the  largest  and  strong- 


58  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

est  in  the  semi-circle  of  defences,  and  was  equipped  with 
many  heavy  guns  that  commanded  the  valley  and  a  wide 
range  of  the  country  to  the  south  and  west.  Beyond  the 
fort  were  lines  of  lower  earthworks  and  rifle  pits. 

The  new  camp  was  on  high,  level  meadow  land  on  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Gillingham,  a  field's  width  west  of  the  road 
that  led  from  Alexandria  to  Mt.  Vernon.  It  was  sheltered 
on  the  south  and  west  by  heavily  timbered  woodlands. 

We  were  in  the  neighborhood  of  old  historic  families. 
Six  miles  to  the  south  was  Mt.  Vernon,  visited  reverently  by 
soldiers  of  either  army.  At  a  less  distance  were  the  ruins 
of  an  old  home  of  Lord  Fairfax,  occupied  by  him  before  he 
built  his  later  home  beyond  the  Blue  Ridge.  The  Hunters, 
Lewises,  Grahams  and  Masons  were  other  noted  families 
which  had  lived  in  the  vicinity.  While  living  on  their  fine 
country  estates  members  of  these  families  had  from  time 
immemorial  held  official  positions  under  the  government. 
On  the  coming  of  the  Union  armies  many  prominent  fam 
ilies  had  abandoned  their  homes  and  gone  farther  south. 

Not  far  from  the  camp  was  the  fine  farm  of  George 
Mason  who  boasted  that  he  was  a  descendant  of  the  royal 
house  of  the  Stuarts.  He  owned  many  slaves  and  had  been 
a  magistrate  noted  for  the  cruel  punishments  he  had  inflicted 
on  accused  persons  whom  he  had  adjudged  guilty.  He  was 
a  secessionist.  When  the  Union  army  crossed  into  Virginia 
he  made  ready  to  leave  for  Richmond  with  all  the  valuables 
he  could  take  with  him.  A  detachment  of  Union  troops 
appeared  on  the  scene  just  as  his  loaded  carriages  were 
leaving  the  grounds.  His  grinning  slaves  could  not  repress 
their  signs  of  delight  as  they  saw  the  cavalcade  stopped  and 
their  master  placed  under  guard  in  his  own  house.  After 
ward  he  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  as  a  loyal  Unionist  and 
filed  a  claim  for  damages  done  by  the  soldiers  who  had 
encamped  on  his  estate — $20,000  for  trees  cut  down  for 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  59 

fuel,  $10,000  for  fences  destroyed,  and  $80  an  acre  for 
injuries  done  to  the  land  itself. 

Camp  Schickfuss  was  one  of  the  best  ordered  camps  in 
the  history  of  the  regiment.  The  lieutenant  colonel  com 
manding  was  prompt,  approachable  and  gentlemanly.  He 
was  up  and  out  on  the  grounds  at  reveille.  He  supervised 
affairs.  As  often  as  practicable  he  called  out  the  entire 
available  command  and  drilled  it  in  person,  and  the  various 
evolutions  skillfully  performed  were  enjoyed  by  the  men  as 
well  as  by  the  commander  himself.  His  wife,  a  comely, 
cheery  woman,  heartily  respected,  shared  his  life  in  the 
camp. 

For  supplies  of  hay  and  straw  we  foraged  around  the 
country,  the  quartermaster  giving  receipts  for  what  was 
taken.  Rations  of  fresh  and  salt  meat,  hard  and  soft  bread, 
and  beans  were  sufficient  and  good,  although  not  always 
properly  cooked.  It  was  customary  for  the  sutler  to 
keep  extras  for  sale,  but  some  of  these  were  not  very 
digestible. 

A  special  sutler  had  been  appointed  by  the  lieutenant 
colonel,  but  no  sooner  was  the  camp  in  order  than  Franklin, 
the  regimental  sutler,  appeared  with  his  loaded  wagons,  pur 
posing  without  asking  leave,  to  pitch  his  tent  and  open  up  a 
branch  department  stock  of  cheap  stationery,  tobacco,  musty 
ginger  snaps  and  cheese,  with  some  kegs  of  beer  and  cases 
of  whisky.  He  was  a  peculiar,  dark-visaged  man,  who  sup 
posed  that  his  appointment  as  regimental  sutler  was  about 
the  same  thing  as  a  commission,  giving  him  rank  on  an 
equality  with  the  staff  officers.  He  was  surprised  therefore, 
when  he  found  that  the  lieutenant  colonel  did  not  recognize 
the  right  and  privileges  that  he  claimed,  but  on  the  contrary 
told  him  to  take  his  wagons  back  whence  he  had  brought 
them.  As  sutler  of  the  regiment  he  demanded  the  right  to 
sell  goods  wherever  any  part  of  the  regiment  might  be. 


60  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

"You  cannot  be  sutler  here." 

"Do  I  understand  that  you  will  not  allow  me  to  have 
my  tent  here?" 

"You  understand  that  I  order  you  off  these  grounds." 

"Will  you  give  me  that  order  in  writing?" 

"It  is  not  necessary." 

And  chafing  with  unavailing  wrath  over  this  want  of 
recognition,  and  the  loss  of  profits  from  expected  sales,  he 
drove  his  wagons  back  to  Camp  Kearney  where  greater 
woes  awaited  him. 

The  Accotink  creek  flows  into  the  Potomac  below  Mt. 
Vernon.  The  Occoquan,  of  which  Bull  Run  is  a  tributary, 
is  from  two  to  three  miles  from  the  Accotink.  The  courses 
of  the  two  streams  are  nearly  parallel.  The  Confederates 
under  Gen.  Wigfall  were  beyond  the  Occoquan.  The  two 
streams  were  the  picket  lines  of  the  respective  armies.  The 
region  between  was  debatable  ground.  Scouting  parties 
from  either  side  would  enter  this  ground.  Small  parties 
under  cover  of  night  would  steal  inside  the  opposing  picket 
line.  A  few  skirmishes  had  taken  place.  On  the  nth  of 
November  a  detachment  of  the  Fourth  Maine  infantry,  Col. 
Berry,  was  ordered  out  for  a  scout  beyond  the  Accotink. 
As  a  cavalry  advance  for  this  infantry  the  greater  part  of 
Company  B  \vas  ordered  out.  Captain  Henry  B.  Todd  and 
Lieutenant  John  Ennis  went  writh  the  cavalry.  They  rested 
that  night  at  Olivet  Chapel.  The  next  day  they  crossed  the 
Accotink  and  went  as  far  as  Pohick  Church,  about  six 
miles  west  of  Mt.  Vernon,  making  their  way  leisurely.  On 
the  1 2th,  returning,  they  recrossed  the  Accotink  some  dis 
tance  in  the  rear  of  the  infantry.  Captain  Todd  and  a  few 
of  his  men  had  stopped  at  a  house.  Foraging  for  neces 
saries  was  sometimes  indulged  in,  and  convenient  things  for 
the  camp  found  at  abandoned  houses  were  appropriated, 
although  contrary  to  general  orders.  Bugler  William  Den- 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  61 

ton  had  appropriated  a  side  saddle  which  he  proposed  to 
take  to  camp  presumably  for  the  use  of  the  wife  of  one  of 
the  officers.  Charles  R.  Peterson  had  found  several  num 
bers  of  Harper's  Magazine,  which  he  had  buckled  inside 
his  belt.  The  road  led  through  some  very  dense  second- 
growth  woods.  Here  a  party  of  Confederates  had  lain  con 
cealed  while  the  infantry  and  the  larger  part  of  the  cavalry 
had  passed.  As  the  small  party  of  cavalry  came  along  the 
Confederates  rose  from  their  ambush  and  fired  at  close 
range.  The  captain's  horse  was  killed.  Sergeant  O'Brien's 
horse  was  shot  and  he  was  thrown  violently  to  the  ground, 
saying,  as  he  was  trying  to  rise,  "'Oh,  Oi'm  hurted,  Oi'm 
hurted!"  The  few  others  seeing  no  chance  to  accomplish 
anything,  dashed  through  thei  line  of  Confederates  who 
had  partially  surrounded  them  and  escaped. 

The  Confederates  taking  the  captain  and  three  or  four 
other  prisoners,  hurried  away  lest  a  force  from  the  column 
that  had  passed,  hearing  the  firing,  should  return.  Clark 
Stanton,  escaping  from  the  skirmish,  quickly  overtook  the 
remainder  of  the  cavalry  under  Lieutenant  Ennis,  and 
begged  the  lieutenant  to  return,  as  there  were  but  a  few  of 
the  enemy,  and  the  company  could  easily  defeat  them  and 
rescue  their  captive  comrades.  The  lieutenant  refused. 
Stanton  asked  that  a  dozen  men  might  be  allowed  to  go 
back  with  him,  but  the  lieutenant  positively  commanded  that 
not  a  man  should  leave  the  ranks,  and  gave  orders  to  move 
on  after  the  infantry.  The  wounded  Denton,  still  keeping 
his  side-saddle,  rode  on  with  the  rest,  until,  reaching  the 
camp  of  the  38th  N.  Y.  infantry,  hetwas  left  behind  in  the 
hospital  of  that  regiment  where  the  next  day  he  died. 

There  was  consternation  in  the  camp  when,  late  in  the 
afternoon,  Eldridge  S.  Mitchell  galloped  into  the  grounds 
and  down  the  company  line,  excitedly  announcing  that  the 
company  had  been  in  a  fight  and  cut  to  pieces,  the  captain 


62  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

and  several  men  were  prisoners,  some  were  wounded,  and 
Peterson  was  killed.  Later  Lieut.  Ennis  returned  with 
what  remained,  when  the  details  of  the  unfortunate  affair 
were  rehearsed.  Peterson's  loss  was  lamented,  for  he  was 
a  good,  self-possessed  soldier,  and  a  cheerful  comrade.  It  was 
a  pleasant  surprise,  therefore,  when  the  next  morning  he 
came  walking  into  camp,  as  unconcerned  as  if  nothing  seri 
ous  had  happened,  bringing  his  arms  and  a  rebel  bullet  flat 
tened  on  the  clasp  of  his  sabre  belt.  A  Confederate  stand 
ing  near  the  head  of  his  horse,  had  fired  straight  at  him, 
and  Peterson  felt  the  shock.  Another  shot  struck  his  horse 
in  the  nose  and  maddened  him.  He  reared  and  plunged 
beyond  control,  and  dashed  sidewise  against  the  rail  fence 
by  the  roadside  with  such  force  as  to  throw  Peterson  over 
the  fence.  He  was  badly  shaken  up  and  stunned,  but  kept 
his  senses  and  lay  perfectly  still  in  the  thick  underbush, 
watching  events. 

When  the  Confederates  had  got  together  their  prisoners, 
and  departed,  he  rose  from  his  shelter  under  the  fence,  took 
a  deliberate  survey  of  the  field  of  fight,  and  took  up  his  line 
of  march  on  foot.  At  night  he  reached  the  camp  of  the 
other  part  of  the  regiment  where  he  was  generously  enter 
tained,  and  the  next  morning  came  to  his  own  camp.  The 
magazines  within  his  belt  had  broken  the  force  of  the  bullet 
which  had  torn  its  way  almost  through  the  clasp. 

The  prisoners  were  relieved  of  all  articles  of  value  and 
marched  all  night  and  next  day  to  Manassas.  The  captain 
tried  to  cheer  up  his  fellowr  prisoners,  but  before  they 
reached  the  end  of  their  long,  weary,  hungry  march,  a  few 
tears  w7ere  observed  to  course  down  his  cheeks  as  his 
changed  condition  occurred  to  him.  Although  not  one  of 
the  most  active  officers,  he  had  many  excellent  qualities  and 
was  well  thought  of.  His  name  was  the  maiden  name  of 
President  Lincoln's  wife,  and  his  captors  gained  the  impres- 


IN  AND  AROUND  WASHINGTON.  63 

sion  that  he  was  a  relative.  He  was  exchanged  some  months 
later  and  was  made  provost  marshal  of  Washington,  which 
position  he  held  until  1864,  when  for  some  reason,  he  was 
dismissed  from  the  service.  Adjutant  J.  C.  Battersby  be 
came  captain  of  Company  B. 

This  affair  was  announced  in  large  head  lines  in  the 
next  morning's  papers.  In  a  northern  city  the  paper  was 
being  scanned  at  the  breakfast  table  when  the  flaming  head 
lines  were  noticed.  It  caused  consternation.  A  brother 
was  in  Captain  Todd's  company.  As  soon  as  the  head  of 
the  family  could  reach  the  telegraph  office  he  wired  an  offi 
cer  whom  he  knew  to  be  in  Fort  Lyon,  asking  if  the  brother 
was  safe.  Time  after  time  during  the  day  and  till  late  at 
night  he  went  to  the  telegraph  office,  but  no  message  came. 
After  a  night  of  anxiety  he  went  early  in  the  morning.  The 
operator  said  "No  reply  yet."  Then  as  the  instrument  re 
newed  its  clicking, —  ''Here  it  comes,  now." 

"He  is  all  right." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
CAMP  KEARNEY. 

T^TOVEMBER  I'/th  the  six  companies  at  Camp  Schickfuss 
•*•  J-  struck  tents,  loaded  their  baggage  wagons  and  joined 
the  rest  of  the  regiment  at  Camp  Kearney.  This  camp  was 
well  located  on  a  sloping  field  on  the  north  side  of  the  road 
that  ran  in  front  of  the  extensive  grounds  of  Fairfax  Sem 
inary.  Among  some  large  oak  trees  on  the  eastern  and 
higher  part  of  the  grounds  was  a  long  brick  house  of  two 
stories  above  a  high  brick  basement,  with  a  veranda  the 
length  of  the  house.  This  was  headquarters.  The  house 
had  been  built  in  colonial  days  and  had  been  the  home  of 
prominent  families.  General  Kearney  of  the  New  Jersey 
brigade  had  his  headquarters  in  a  larger  house  near  by. 
Gen.  Wm.  B.  Franklin  commanding  the  Alexandria  division, 
occupied  a  tent  pitched  on  the  grounds  of  a  stately  mansion 
that  had  been  the  home  of  one  of  the  faculty  of  the  seminary. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  Nov.  21,  in  compliance  with 
orders  received  the  day  before,  provided  with  a  few  rounds 
of  ammunition  and  rations  for  the  day,  with  rolled  blankets 
strapped  to  the  saddles,  the  regiment  was  mounted  and  on 
the  march  on  the  Leesburg  turnpike.  Soldiers  were  sup 
posed  to  be  prepared  for  the  execution  of  whatever  orders 
might  be  given,  and  not  to  be  surprised  at  anything  that 
might  happen.  But  there  was  to  be  no  fight  this  day.  In 
the  neighborhood  of  Bailey's  Cross  Roads  a  large  area  had 
been  cleared  of  fences  and  other  obstructions,  and  made 
suitable  for  extensive  military  maneuvers.  The  whole  army 

64 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  65 

of  the  Potomac  was  there.  It  was  estimated  that  there  were 
present  twenty-five  thousand  artillery  and  cavalry,  and  sev 
enty-five  thousand  infantry.  The  men  appeared  in  their 
best  condition.  With  their  uniforms  of  dark  or  light  blue 
with  varied  distinguishing  colors,  the  bright  guns  of  the 
artillery,  the  flashing  sabres  of  the  cavalry  and  the  long 
lines  of  infantry  with  their  glittering  bayonets,  with  num 
berless  bright  flags  and  guidons,  these  gathered  hosts  pre 
sented  an  appearance  that  for  magnificence  had  never  been 
equaled  on  the  American  continent.  They  recalled  the 
pictures  of  the  great  armies  of  Napoleon.  A  battery  on  the 
right  fired  all  its  guns.  A  battery  in  the  center 
fired  its  guns,  and  this  was  followed  by  a  battery 
on  the  left.  Seven  times  was  this  done, — the  salute  of 
twenty-one  guns  fired  by  battery  in  honor  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States.  The  salute  was  followed  by  mighty 
volumes  of  cheers  along  the  lines.  Then  from  the  military 
bands  came  the  notes  of  "Hail  to  the  Chief,"  and  soon  Gen 
eral  McClellan  and  President  Lincoln,  followed  by  a  brilliant 
retinue,  came  riding  along  the  lines.  The  men  again  broke 
forth  in  cheers  as  proof  of  their  devotion  to  him  who  repre 
sented  the  nation.  The  men  of  the  regiment  felt  that  they 
were  specially  honored  in  bearing  his  name. 

The  entire  army  by  companies  marched  in  review  before 
the  President,  the  commanding  general,  and  thousands  of 
visitors. 

The  spirit  of  the  army  was  at  its  highest,  and  it  was 
felt  that  such  a  vast  power  properly  wielded  could  crush  any 
force  the  rebellion  could  muster.  The  general-in-chief  could 
handle  that  power  well  on  the  field  of  review,  and  there  were 
high  hopes  that  he  could  handle  it  equally  well  in  an  active 
and  aggressive  campaign.  The  review  from  early  in  the 
morning  till  night  was  a  holiday. 

And  now  the  monotonous  soldiering  in  camp  was  con- 


66  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

tinued,  relieved  by  daily  details  for  picket  and  patrol  duty 
and  frequent  scouts  beyond  the  lines.  On  the  24th  a  bat 
talion  accompanied  a  force  of  artillery  and  infantry  from 
the  New  Jersey  brigade  to  Burke's  station  on  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  railroad,  and  to  Anandale,  where  a  body  of 
Confederate  cavalry  had  passed  a  short  time  before.  For 
the  purpose  of  gaining  reliable  information  from  the  inhabit 
ants,  scouting  parties  would  frequently  represent  themselves 
as  Confederates.  They  would  hear  themselves  abused,  and 
would  sometimes  gather  in  some  stores  that  they  had  found 
reason  to  suppose  were  intended  for  the  use  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  2/th  Companies  C  and  F,  Captains  Boyd  and 
Bennett,  went  almost  to  Fairfax  Court  House  where  they 
were  challenged  by  hostile  shots  from  rifle  pits.  A  body 
of  cavalry  was  seen  beyond  the  rifle  pits.  Some  shots 
were  exchanged,  but  there  was  no  disposition  on  either  side 
to  become  engaged  at  close  quarters.  The  purpose  for 
which  the  companies  had  been  sent  out  was  to  ascertain  the 
location  of  the  enemy.  This  having  been  accomplished,  they 
were  willing  to  retire.  But  in  doing  this,  if  they  could  lead 
on  the  enemy  in  pursuit  and  get  him  into  a  position  where 
they  could  take  him  at  a  disadvantage,  they  would  like  to 
do  it.  But  soon  they  became  suspicious  that  the  enemy 
might  be  planning  to  get  them  into  just  such  a  situation,  by 
inducing  them  to  delay  their  return  until  a  force  could  be 
sent  around  to  intercept  them.  So  strong  did  this  suspicion 
become  that  it  was  deemed  best  to  return  by  the  round-about 
way  of  Falls  Church,  and  thus  spy  out  more  of  the  country 
while  escaping  the  possible  plots  of  the  enemy.  On  the  way, 
in  the  edge  of  some  woods  beyond  a  clearing,  there  suddenly 
confronted  them  a  long  line  of  infantry  skirmishers  prepared 
for  a  hostile  demonstration.  Evidently  the  infantry  looked 
upon  the  cavalry  as  enemies,  coming  as  they  did  from  the 
direction  of  the  enemy's  lines.  Were  the  infantry  enemies, 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  67 

or  friends?  The  cavalry  had  often  practiced  deception  on 
the  Confederates.  Might  they  be  deceived  themselves? 
Captain  Boyd  rode  forward  to  ascertain.  Taking  some  risk 
he  rode  near  enough  to  ask  who  they  were,  and  received 
the  reply:  "The  Twentieth  New  York.  Who  are  you?" 
Finally  each  was  satisfied  that  the  other  was  a  friend.  This 
possibility  of  a  mistake  led  to  the  adoption  of  signals  for 
identification. 

An  army  in  camp  means  occasional  instances  of  demor 
alization.  In  spite  of  orders  to  the  contrary  private  property 
was  not  always  respected.  Articles  found  in  abandoned 
houses  were  appropriated  as  much  by  officers  as  by  enlisted 
men.  Valuable  books  found  their  way  into  the  libraries  of 
officers.  Gen.  Franklin  is  to  be  credited  with  an  honest 
purpose  to  prevent  all  wanton  plundering,  and  his  appoint 
ment  of  Captain  Boyd  as  provost  marshal  of  the  division 
had  in  view  the  better  maintenance  of  good  order  and  dis 
cipline.  December  i  his  company  was  detached  from  the 
regiment  as  provost  guard,  and  they  pitched  their  tents  near 
division  headquarters. 

Duty  of  an  unpleasant  nature  awaited  the  provost 
marshal.  William  H.  Johnson  of  Company  D,  while  on 
picket  duty  at  Benton's  Tavern,  went  outside  the  lines  and 
was  well  on  his  way  towards  the  enemy's  lines  when  he  met 
a  body  of  infantry  that  he  supposed  to  be  Confederates,  but 
which  was  a  detachment  of  the  New  Jersey  brigade  under 
Col.  Taylor,  returning  from  a  scout. 

He  was  not  undeceived  until  he  had  announced  his  pur 
pose  of  deserting  from  the  Union  army.  He  found  that  he 
had  betrayed  himself,  and  was  a  prisoner.  He  was  disarmed 
and  placed  under  guard.  A  court  martial  was  convened,  of 
which  Colonel  N.  J.  Jackson  of  the  5th  Maine  infantry  was 
president.  Before  this  court  Johnson  was  brought  to  trial 
on  the  charge  of  attempting  to  desert  to  the  enemy.  He  here 


68  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

stated  that  he  desired,  not  to  desert,  but  to  visit  his  mother 
and  sister  who  lived  in  New  Orleans.  But  his  statements 
did  not  correspond  with  those  he  had  made  to  the  supposed 
Confederates  into  whose  hands  he  had  fallen,  far  outside  the 
lines.  He  was  a  peculiar  man  whose  actions  at  different 
times  had  proved  him  unreliable.  But  he  was  not  so  irre 
sponsible  as  not  to  understand  the  nature  of  desertion.  He 
was  found  guilty  and  condemned  to  be  shot.  The  sentence 
was  approved  by  the  general-in-chief,  who  added  to  his  ap 
proval  :  "For  simple  desertion  the  penalty  is  death.  For 
desertion  coupled  with  such  treachery  there  can  be  no 
mercy."  Friday,  the  I3th,  at  3  p.m.,  was  the  time  appointed 
for  the  execution.  This  was  the  first  military  execution  in 
the  army  of  the  Potomac.  That  it  might  be  made  as  im 
pressive  as  possible,  all  the  details  specifically  stated  were 
published  in  general  orders.  The  entire  division  was  ordered 
to  be  present.  The  place  designated  was  a  wide  plain  north 
of  the  seminary.  The  brigades  of  Slocum,  Kearney  and 
Newton,  each  in  two  lines  twenty  paces  apart,  formed  three 
sides  of  a  hollow  square.  The  open  side  was  on  the  north. 
The  cavalry  and  artillery,  dismounted,  were  formed  facing 
each  other,  on  the  right  and  left,  respectively,  of  the  brigades 
that  formed  the  east  and  west  sides  of  the  square.  The  fir 
ing  party  was  a  detail  of  one  man  from  each  of  the  com 
panies  of  the  cavalry  regiment  to  which  the  prisoner  be 
longed.  This  detail  was  under  the  command  of  a  sergeant. 
The  music  of  the  cavalry  regiment,  the  firing  party  on  foot, 
the  open  wagon  containing  the  prisoner  sitting  on  his  rough 
pine  coffin  and  attended  by  the  chaplain,  an  escort  of  one  com 
pany  of  cavalry  mounted,  made  up  the  melancholy  proces 
sion  at  the  head  of  which  was  the  provost  marshal.  The 
procession  passed  between  the  two  lines  of  the  entire  division 
from  right  to  left,  the  front  line  facing  to  the  rear  while 
the  cortege  was  passing,  when  it  faced  again  to  the  front. 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  69 

The  bands  of  each  brigade,  one  after  another,  played  a  dirge 
as  the  long  and  slow  procession  passed.  After  thus  passing 
between  the  lines  on  the  three  sides,  the  procession  took  its 
position  on  the  fourth  side  of  the  square.  The  prisoner, 
blindfolded,  sat  on  his  coffin  in  front  of  the  firing  party  of 
twelve  of  his  own  comrades.  The  carbines  had  been  loaded 
out  of  sight  of  those  who  were  to  fire  them,  a  single  one 
being  loaded  with  a  blank  cartridge.  The  chaplain  spoke 
his  last  words  to  the  condemned  man.  Amid  the  intense, 
sickening  heart-throbbings  of  more  than  ten  thousand  sol 
diers,  and  many  civilian  spectators,  who  looked  on  in  death 
like  silence,  the  marshal  waved  his  signal.  There  was  a 
crash  of  fire  arms,  and  the  dying  deserter  was  lying  on  the 
ground  beside  his  coffin. 

Brigades,  regiments,  companies  marched  back  to  their 
camps.  The  general  orders  had  specified  that  there  would 
be  "no  other  military  exercises  during  the  remainder  of  the 
day." 

'Twas  evening;  on  a  tented  field,  and  through  the  heated  haze, 

Flashed  back  from  lines  of  burnished  arms,  the  sun's  effulgent  blaze ; 

While  from  a  sombre  prison-house  seen  slowly  to  emerge 

A  sad  procession,  o'er  the  sward  moved  to  a  funeral  dirge, 

And  in  the  midst,  with  faltering  step,  and  pale  and  anxious  lace, 

In  manacles,  between  two  guards,  a  soldier  had  his  place. 

Still  on  before  the  marshalled  ranks  the  train  pursued  its  way, 

Up  to  a  designated  place  whereon  a  coffin  lay, 

His  coffin !     And  with  reeling  brain,  despairing,  desolate, 

He  took  his  station  by  its  side,  abandoned  to  his  fate ! 

Then  came  across  his  wavering  sight  strange  pictures  in  the  air; 

He  saw  his  distant  southern  home,  he  saw  his  mother  there. 

Yet  once  again,  in  double  file,  advancing  then  he  saw 

Twelve  comrades  sternly  set  apart  to  execute  the  law : 

But  saw  no  more;  his  senses  swam,  deep  darkness  settled  round, 

And  shuddering,  he  waited  now  the  fatal  volley's  sound ! 

FRANCIS  DE  HAES  JANVIER. 

On  the  second  of  December  congress  met.  Its  proceed 
ings  were  watched  with  interest,  but  it  was  evident  that  the 


70  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

rebellion  was  to  be  suppressed,  not  by  legislation,  but  by 
military  force.  There  had  been  indications  of  a  vigorous 
movement  against  the  enemy  entrenched  at  Manassas.  The 
weather  up  to  the  last  of  December  was  mild.  The  roads 
were  dry  and  all  things  seemed  favorable.  Great  pressure 
was  brought  to  bear  upon  McClellan  to  make  an  aggressive 
movement,  and  he  gave  repeated  assurances  that  a  move 
ment  would  soon  be  made.  But  as  the  weeks  passed  by,  the 
men  became  settled  in  the  conviction  that  they  would  remain 
here,  and  they  began  to  make  themselves  comfortable  for  the 
winter. 

Camp  Kearney,  our  long  remembered  first  winter 
camp,  was  named  in  honor  of  our  colonel's  associate  captain 
of  cavalry  in  the  Mexican  war,  now  the  one-armed,  grizzled 
veteran  general  of  the  New  Jersey  brigade. 

The  company  lines  were  parallel.  At  the  head  of  each 
line  of  A  tents  were  the  wall  tents  of  the  company  officers. 
Back  of  these  were  the  wall  tents  of  the  field  and  staff  offi 
cers.  The  brick  house  behind  these  was  headquarters. 

Usually  in  a  cavalry  camp  the  horses  were  tied  to  a  rope 
stretched  on  posts  in  the  middle  of  the  street  in  front  of  the 
line  of  company  tents.  But  here  the  stables  were  outside 
the  camp.  Posts  were  set,  and  on  these  were  placed  poles 
supporting  a  roof  made  from  branches  of  trees,  brush,  pieces 
of  old  canvas  and  whatever  other  sheltering  material  the 
men  could  find. 

Four  men  occupying  a  tent  would  build  log  foundations 
two  or  three  feet  high,  plastered  with  mud,  and  upon  these 
foundations  stretch  their  tents.  They  would  dig  out  the  in 
side,  making  the  ground  floor  several  inches  lower  than  the 
ground  outside.  On  each  side  of  this  log-walled,  canvas- 
roofed  house  was  space  for  two  narrow  bunks,  an  upper 
and  a  lower,  with  the  middle  space  for  "sitting  room."  The 
bunks  were  filled  in  with  hay  or  straw  if  it  could  be  had, 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  71 

and  over  this  were  spread  the  heavy  woolen  blankets,  mak 
ing  very  comfortable  resting  places.  Hanging  to  the  tent 
poles,  or  lying  on  the  bunks  were  the  arms — sabres,  re 
volvers,  carbines,  sometimes  the  bridles  and  saddles,  the 
saddle  often  serving  as  a  pillow.  At  the  back  of  the  tent 
was  a  chimney  built  of  sticks  and  mud,  topped  off  with  the 
headless  s-keleton  of  a  barrel.  The  chimney  was  entirely 
outside.  Inside  the  tent  was  a  little  square  fireplace  of  brick 
or  stone  laid  in  mortar  or  mud.  With  only  green  wood  to 
burn,  and  the  wind  not  always  blowing  the  right  way,  often 
more  smoke  came  out  of  the  fireplace  than  went  up  the 
chimney.  These  quarters  were  comfortable  and  the  winter 
was  not  without  its  enjoyments. 

Generally  two  men  were  detailed  to  cook  for  the  com 
pany.  The  cooks'  tent  was  at  the  lower  end  of  the  line,  and 
three  times  a  day  the  company  would  fall  in  line  and  march 
to  the  outdoor  kitchen  for  the  bean  soup,  stewed  meat  and 
coffee.  After  a\vhile  the  men  of  each  mess  would  prefer  to 
draw  their  o\vn  rations  and  cook  them  as  they  pleased,  sup 
plementing  them  with  such  extras  as  they  could  get.  Sup 
plies  were  generally  promptly  furnished  and  adequate. 
Sometimes  the  ''blamed  quartermaster"  was  blamed  more 
than  he  deserved  to  be.  The  wonder  is  that  the  government 
was  able  to  furnish  supplies  as  well  as  it  did,  with  such  a 
multitude  of  men  so  suddenly  called  into  service  to  be  pro 
vided  for. 

The  winter  of  1861-62  in  Virginia  was  wet  and  cold, 
with  occasional  snow  falling  on  ground  not  frozen.  There 
was  mud  everywhere.  The  Virginia  mud  was  peculiar.  It 
was  yellowish,  or  light  brown,  in  color.  The  roads  most 
used  by  wagon  trains  bringing  supplies  were  like  rivers  of 
mixed  paint.  Perhaps  the  muddiest  place  was  the  low  level 
road  between  the  end  of  Long  Bridge  and  the  foot  of  the 
hill  on  which  stood  Fort  Runyan.  One  day  a  man  of  the 


72  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

regiment  was  on  his  way  to  Washington,  riding  a  strong, 
spirited  horse  that  had  become  accustomed  to  the  blasts  of 
the  bugle  and  trumpet,  but  was  not  used  to  the  rattling  of 
the  drum.  Near  the  end  of  the  bridge  was  an  old  house 
used  as  the  quarters  of  an  infantry  guard.  As  the  cavalry 
man  came  directly  in  front  of  these  quarters  the  drummer 
came  out  on  the  porch,  and  began  to  beat  a  loud  and  lively 
call  to  dinner.  The  horse  became  bewildered.  Instead  of 
trying  to  run,  which  would  have  been  a  difficult  thing  in 
that  mud  almost  belly-deep,  he  began  to  dance  to  that  lively 
music,  at  first  on  four  feet,  then  on  two.  The  drummer 
appeared  to  enjoy  the  sight,  and  quickened  the  time  of  his. 
stirring  music.  The  horse  rose  to  the  occasion  on  his 
hind  feet,  gesticulating  actively  with  his  fore  legs,  until  he 
reached  a  little  more  than  a  vertical  position.  This  position 
he  was  not  able  long  to  maintain  with  a  heavy  man  cling 
ing  to  his  back,  and  over  the  two  went  backward  together, 
the  man  encumbered  with  a  heavy  blue  overcoat,  beneath. 
They  rescued  themselves  from  their  half  drowned  condition, 
and  the  place  where  they  had  half  disappeared,  as  the  mud 
flowed  back  to  its  level,  seemed  none  the  less  in  quantity 
for  what  was  carried  away  on  the  backs  of  the  cavalryman 
and  the  horse,  the  latter  seeming  a  little  ashamed  of  his 
part  of  the  performance. 

The  winter  was  hard  on  foot-wear,  and  the  wide- 
bottomed,  scow-like  shoes  with  which  we  were  expected  to 
navigate  these  seas  of  Virginia  mud,  would  unexpectedly 
"gape  open  in  cracks,"  like  the  ships  of  the  Trojans  in  the 
Mediterranean  storm,  or  the  sides  would  fall  out  altogether. 

The  days  in  camp  were  filled  with  attending  the  regu 
lar  "calls" — reveille,  assembly,  stable,  breakfast,  guard 
mount,  sick  call,  etc.,  and  when  the  weather  permitted,  drill, 
inspection  and  dress  parades.  An  important  part  of  the 
camp  was  the  guard  house  placed  near  the  main  entrance 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  73 

to  the  camp,  a  substantial  structure  of  logs,  the  contribu 
tion  of  the  woodmen  of  Company  K.  This  was  the  head 
quarters  of  the  detailed  guard  and  the  temporary  abode  of 
offenders.  An  imposing  spectacle  was  the  daily  guard 
mount.  At  eight  o'clock  each  morning,  Walter,  the  ser 
geant  major,  might  be  seen  stalking  up  and  down  the  parade 
ground  awaiting  the  coming  of  the  details  from  the  several 
companies.  His  commanding  presence,  soldier-like  appear 
ance  and  faultless  dress  made  him  a  model  for  all  to  copy 
after.  As  he  checked  off  the  details  he  would  order  them 
into  line,  and  then  commencing  at  the  right  he  would  inspect 
the  guard.  Not  a  fault  or  blemish  could  escape  his  critical 
eye.  With  a  wealth  of  expletives  that  would  exhaust  the 
resources  of  two  languages  he  would  berate  the  careless 
and  ridicule  the  slovenly  until  they  would  make  up  their 
minds  never  again  to  report  for  duty  unless  their  uniforms 
and  accoutrements  were  in  perfect  order.  He  would  then 
turn  them  over  to  the  officer  of  the  guard.  The  music  \vould 
"sound  off,"  the  musicians  marching  and  counter  march 
ing  in  front  of  the  line,  and  the  guard  would  march  to  its 
quarters  and  the  old  guard  would  be  relieved. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  much  of  the  neat  and  sol 
dierly  appearance  that  afterward  became  a  characteristic  of 
the  regiment  was  the  result  of  Walter's  strictures  at  guard 
mount  at  Camp  Kearney.  He  was  a  typical  German  sol 
dier.  With  all  his  severity  when  on  duty,  he  was  kind 
hearted,  genuine,  true  to  his  friends,  and  all  who  knew  him 
well  were  his  friends.  He  served  faithfully  all  through,  and 
received  his  death  wound  the  night  before  Lee's  surrender. 

The  frequent  details  for  pickets  and  scouts  broke  up 
the  monotony.  And  there  were  other  things.  Captain 
Batter sby  was  a  superb  horseman.  He  took  the  initiative 
in  the  steeple  chase.  Mounted  on  his  powerful  "General 
McClellan"  he  took  "Troop  B"  on  many  a  wild  ride  through 


74  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  country,  jumping  ditches,  fences  and  hedges.  He  had 
a  peculiar  way  of  "lifting"  his  horse  over  a  hurdle,  direct 
ing  his  men  to  follow.  Those  at  first  timid  became  daring. 
All  through  the  regiment  were  men  who  became  bold  and 
expert  riders.  There  came  many  occasions  where  these 
"horse  tamers",  possibly  equal  to  those  of  ancient  Troy, 
found  this  training  valuable. 

The  discipline  was  not  at  all  times  what  it  should  have 
been.  There  was  intemperance  among  some  of  the  officers, 
and  they  neglected  their  duties.  The  percentage  of  intem- 
perates  among  the  enlisted  men  was  less  than  that  among  the 
officers. 

A  slovenly  orderly  sergeant  would  crawl  out  of  his  ill- 
kept  bunk  after  reveille  had  sounded.  Then  with  clothes 
half  on  he  would  go  down  the  line,  opening  one  tent  after 
another,  and  with  scolding,  bluster,  threats  and  no  little 
profanity  would  tell  the  men  to  "get  out,  here,"  and  "fall  in 
for  roll-call."  They  cared  little  for  his  threats  of  extra 
duty  or  the  guard  house,  but  wTould  take  their  time.  He 
spoke  with  an  accent  not  purely  American,  and  to  any  want 
of  respect  or  "talking  back"  his  usual  expression  was,  "Oi'll 
fix  oo !" 

Another  orderly  was  fully  and  neatly  dressed  and  at  the 
head  of  the  line  waiting  for  the  call,  never  going  to  a  tent 
to  wake  the  men,  or  speaking  a  scolding  word.  His  men 
formed  themselves  in  a  well-dressed  line  by  the  last  note  of 
the  assembly  call. 

To  a  timid  young  soldier  there  was  something  awful  in 
the  presence  of  the  great  officers  in  their  resplendent  uniforms 
and  clothed  with  so  much  dignity  and  authority.  One  such 
timid  fellow,  a  sergeant,  a  good  scholar,  systematic,  and 
always  neat  in  appearance,  was  detailed  as  assistant  in  the 
adjutant's  office.  The  adjutant  was  sometimes  gruff  and 
impatient  over  trifles.  On  a  dress  parade  the  sergeant  was 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  75 

in  his  place  in  the  line,  neat  in  appearance,  but  wearing  his 
undress  blouse  instead  of  his  close-fitting,  yellow-trimmed, 
chevroned  jacket.  The  adjutant  passing  along  the  line 
noticed  him,  and  savagely  snarled, — "Sergeant,  where's 
your  jacket  ?  You  look  like  the  devil !"  "I-I-know  it," 
timidly  stammered  the  latter,  when  in  fact  he  presented  a 
very  respectable  appearance. 

The  adjutant  was  not  possessed  of  much  learning,  but 
was  unconscious  of  his  deficiences.  Noticing  one  day  that 
the  sergeant  had  rewritten  some  document  that  he  had 
drawn  up,  he  impatiently  and  uncivilly  asked  why  he  had 
done  so.  The  sergeant  replied  that  it  was  because  there 
were  so  many  misspelled  words  in  the  original.  The  ad 
jutant  dropped  the  subject. 

A  young  lieutenant  who  possessed  many  of  the  ele 
ments  of  a  good  officer,  energy,  and  a  positive  manner,  was 
sometimes  a  little  too  positive,  even  arbitrary  and  unreason 
able.  At  one  time  he  grossly  abused  a  sergeant  of  his  com 
pany.  Later,  when  under  the  influence  of  some  evil  spirit, 
he  manifested  the  same  disposition  toward  a  major.  He 
apparently  failed  to  notice,  until  too  late,  that  the  major 
was  a  much  larger  man  than  he,  and  prompted  by  the  same 
spirit.  For  a  number  of  days  thereafter  he  did  not  appear 
in  public,  but  was  reported  "sick  in  quarters."  One  day 
the  sergeant  had  occasion  to  go  to  the  lieutenant's  quarters, 
and  found  him  renewing  the  ample  bandage  he  had  been 
wearing  diagonally  about  his  head.  He  looked  sick.  His 
left  eye  was  closed,  while  around  and  under  it  was  a  swollen 
area,  the  color  of  liver,  perhaps  a  few  shades  darker,  the 
shape  and  size  of  a  large  man's  hand  doubled  up.  Under 
the  ancient  strict  military  rule,  for  an  enlisted  man  to  strike 
an  officer  was  death  to  the  enlisted  man.  The  sergeant  was 
glad  he  had  not  struck  the  lieutenant,  although  he  had  suffi 
cient  provocation,  and  was  very  well  satisfied  that  a  more 


76  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

competent  agent  had  done  it  for  him.  But  as  he  saw  his 
superior  officer  thus  laid  up  for  repairs,  with  evident  com 
passion  in  his  tone  and  manner,  he  kindly  inquired, — "Why, 
lieutenant,  what's  the  matter  with  your  eye?"  "I  fell 
down  stairs,"  was  the  sick  officer's  reply.  How  a  man 
could  accidentally  fall  down  stairs  with  such  visible  effects 
only  in  that  part  of  his  system  was  not  quite  apparent.  Evi 
dently  the  falling  down  stairs  was  "all  in  his  eye."  But  the 
sergeant  did  not  care  to  ask  too  many  questions,  and  again 
expressing  his  sympathy  he  considerately  withdrew. 

There  were  now  and  then  rumors  of  convivial  times 
in  some  of  the  officers'  quarters,  and  after  one  of  these  the 
lieutenant  resigned  and  went  north. 

With  a  few  exceptions  the  officers  were  gentlemen, 
temperate,  honorable  in  every  respect,  and  efficient  in  the 
service. 

The  chaplain  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  In  early  life  he 
had  been  a  chaplain  in  the  regular  army.  He  had  resigned 
to  become  rector  of  an  Episcopal  church.  He  had  had  a 
varied  experience  as  rector  of  churches  and  head  master  of 
denominational  schools.  He  was  a  man  of  extensive  learn 
ing,  and  on  occasions  a  speaker  of  genuine  eloquence.  He 
did  not  hesitate,  when  he  felt  like  it,  to  take  a  little  wine  for 
his  stomach's  sake,  and  if  wine  was  not  to  be  had  he  would 
accept  the  nearest  substitute  obtainable.  A  guard  walking 
his  beat  in  front  of  the  field  officers'  tents  addressed  the 
chaplain  familiarly  as  the  latter  came  from  the  sutler's  tent 
carrying  a  bulky  package  under  his  coat.  "What  have  we 
there,  Dominie?  A  bottle  of  whisky?"  "It  might  be  the 
Hooly  Boible,"  said  the  chaplain  fondly  tapping  the  hidden 
package.  "If  that  is  so,"  said  the  guard,  "I  wouldn't  mind 
searching  the  Scriptures  with  you  for  a  little  while."  A 
little  while  after  as  the  guard  walking  his  beat  came  near 
the  chaplain's  tent,  the  latter  privately  beckoned  him  to  come 


CAMP  KEARNEY.         ..  77 

nearer,  and  said  as  he  handed  him  a  glass  of  the  liquid, 
"Have  something  that  will  warm  you  on  a  cold  day."  He 
would  sometimes  become  engaged  in  an  animated  contro 
versy.  If  the  other  party  to  the  controversy  happened  to  be 
of  his  own  temperament  and  habits,  he  would  become  heated 
almost  to  a  belligerent  condition,  when  his  generous  impulses 
would  lead  him  to  extend  the  hand  of  friendship,  saying  that 
his  vocation  was  one  of  peace.  In  such  a  controversy  with 
several  companions  around  a  refreshment  table  in  a  hotel  at 
Washington  his  spirited  zeal,  that  could  hardly  be  called 
spiritual,  got  the  better  of  his  judgment  and  self-control, 
and  he  was  said  to  have  knocked  three  men  down  before  he 
was  arrested.  Soon  after  this  affair  he  was  reported  "hon 
orably  discharged,"  but  he  continued  with  the  regiment  as 
an  uncommissioned  volunteer  for  association's  sake  until  the 
Peninsula  campaign. 

There  were  men  from  Christian  homes,  trying  to  live 
consistent  Christian  lives.  These  had  their  little  social 
meetings  for  reading  the  Bible  and  prayer.  The  chaplain 
by  his  intemperate  ways  forfeited  the  respect  of  these  and 
all  others. 

Like  Thangbrand  the  missionary  whom  the  Norse  King 
Olaf  sent  to  Iceland,  he  doubtless  reported  that  the  people 
to  whom  he  was  sent  were  hard  to  convert  to  his  ways. 

The  sutler  Franklin  whom  the  lieutenant  colonel  or 
dered  off  the  grounds  at  Camp  Schickfuss,  was  a  man  who 
had  been  engaged  in  the  brokerage  business  in  New  York. 
He  had  a  pleasant  home  on  Long  Island  where  he  had  hos 
pitably  entertained  some  of  the  men  connected  with  the 
regiment.  Frank  McReynolds,  the  colonel's  son,  then  too 
young  to  be  accepted  in  the  service,  but  desirous  of  seeing 
what  he  could  of  life  in  the  army,  served  him  as  clerk.  The 
sutler  considered  his  post  one  of  honor  as  well  as  profit.  He 
wore  a  suit  much  like  that  of  the  officers,  with  crossed  sabres 


78  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

on  the  front  of  a  military  cap.  General  Kearney  was  par 
ticular  about  officers  wearing  the  signs  of  their  rank.  At 
tended  by  an  orderly  one  day,  between  the  camp  and  Alex 
andria,  he  met  the  sutler  wearing  his  half-official  dress  and 
riding  a  horse  with  military  trappings.  The  general,  a  little 
suspicious,  stopped  him  and  inquired  his  rank  and  command. 
On  being  told  that  he  was  the  sutler  of  the  Lincoln  Cavalry 
the  general,  as  the  orderly  afterward  related,  broke  forth 
in  emphatic  denunciation  of  his  wearing  the  insignia  to 
which  he  was  not  entitled.  The  conclusion  was  that  the 
sutler  came  down  from  his  high  horse  and  footed  it  home  in 
the  mud.  He  turned  over  his  stock  to  other  parties  and 
went  home. 

General  Kearney  was  gruff  and  hearty,  berating  what 
did  not  suit  him,  and  with  equal  emphasis  commending  what 
did.  A  bugler  was  one  day  on  duty  at  Kearney's  head 
quarters.  He  was  an  observing  man  and  had  noted  that  a 
fine  turkey  was  being  roasted  for  the  general's  dinner.  Now 
the  bugler  loved  the  general  none  the  less,  but  he  appreciated 
roast  turkey  fully  as  much  as  any  one  that  ever  wore  a  star. 
Seeing  the  turkey  unwatched  for  a  few  moments,  save  by 
himself,  and  he  was  watching  it  with  interest  intensified  by 
a  keen  appetite,  the  savory  odor  made  the  temptation  too 
strong  to  be  resisted.  When  the  cook  returned  the  bird  had, 
as  it  were,  retaken  wings  and  disappeared. 

"Crimine  ab  uno  disce  omnes,"  was  in  the  general's 
mind,  and  in  his  haste  and  towering  rage  he  characterized 
the  entire  cavalry  regiment  as  a  lot  of  "mounted  robbers." 

If  there  ever  was  a  man  who  seemed  really  to  enjoy  a 
fight  it  was  he.  He  had  with  him  a  detachment  of  the  same 
"mounted  robbers,"  and  they  acquitted  themselves  so  mag 
nificently  in  a  charge  upon  a  body  of  rebel  infantry  several 
times  larger  than  their  own  number,  that  he  extolled  them 
as  emphatically. as  he  had  condemned  them. 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  79 

Perhaps  his  impetuous  manner  and  example  prompted 
the  fighting  spirit  in  them.  He  never  complained  that  they 
failed  him  in  a  fight. 

General  Franklin  was  a  man  of  fine  soldierly  appear 
ance,  full-faced,  and  an  officer  of  ability,  exacting,  but  not 
always  cool  or  judicious.  He  would  lose  his  temper  at 
trifles. 

It  was  a  muddy  spot  around  the  gate,  and  it  was  no 
small  inconvenience  for  the  guard  to  form  in  line  for  the 
exchange  of  formal  civilities  every  time  an  officer  above  the 
rank  of  captain  came  in  sight.  The  most  of  them  would 
reply  to  the  sentry  calls — "Never  mind  the  guard" — which 
would  relieve  them  of  all  further  trouble. 

But  one  especially  muddy  day  Gen.  Franklin  came  rid 
ing  past.  The  man  on  post  either  did  not  recognize  him, 
or  thought  it  unnecessary  to  call  out  the  guard.  The  gen 
eral  reined  up  his  horse  for  a  few  minutes ;  gave  the  sentry 
and  the  guard,  and  it  would  seem,  the  entire  regiment,  a 
lecture  in  such  vigorous  and  emphatic  expressions  that  all 
the  atmosphere  seemed  charged  with  electricity  and  tinged 
with  blue. 

General  Slocum  was  one  of  those  to  whom  frequent 
details  were  ordered  to  report.  He  was  a  man  unassuming, 
even  in  his  ways,  undemonstrative  and  capable,  considerate 
toward  those  who  had  not  yet  learned  all  the  formalities  of 
military  etiquette.  He  was  not  over-exacting  as  to  form 
where  he  saw  an  honest  purpose  to  do  one's  duty.  He  did 
not  get  into  a  rage  if  the  guard  did  not  turn  at  once  at  his 
approach  to  do  him  honor.  Those  of  the  regiment  who 
were  with  him  most  never  heard  from  him  an  objectionable 
word.  His  bravery  and  ability  were  proved  in  all  the  en 
gagements  in  which  he  took  part,  from  first  Bull  Run  to 
Bentonville. 

The  cool  and  rainy  weather  of  the  fall  put  many  on 


80  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  sick  list,  and  the  winter  sifted  out  the  weak  and  infirm, 
some  seemingly  robust  were  the  first  to  become  ill,  while 
striplings  grew  strong.  Many  were  discharged  for  dis 
ability. 

A  letter  written  at  the  time  by  an  invalid  to  his  home 
paper  gives  some  idea  of  the  sick  soldier's  experience : 

CLARENS  HOUSE  HOSPITAL, 
NEAR  ALEXANDRIA,  VA.,  Feb.,  1862. 

You  have  had  your  correspondence  from  the  camp  of  instruction, 
from  the  tented  field  in  Rebeldom,  and  from  the  field  of  skirmish,  if 
not  of  battle.  The  experience  of  one  detailed  by  misfortune  to  occupy 
the  hospital  may  be  less  entertaining,  but  is  no  less  real. 

Those  not  very  ill  remain  in  quarters.  The  first  hospital  improvised 
for  a  few  seriously  ill  with  fever  was  an  old  barn  with  a  hay  mow  for 
a  common  cot. 

One  at  Camp  Schickfuss  was  given  a  room  in  the  house  of  Mr. 
Gillingham  and  well  cared  for  by  Mrs.  Gillingham,  one  of  the  kindest 
of  women.  At  Camp  Kearney  at  first  some  wall  tents  were  filled  with 
low,  narrow  cots,  and  these  were  soon  filled.  The  tents  were  without 
floors,  cold  and  comfortless. 

It  was  a  strange  experience  to  pass  a  restless,  sleepless  night  in 
the  chilly  tent,  and  find  in  the  morning  that  my  neighbor  on  the  next 
cot  had  died  during  the  night,  and  no  one  knew  when  he  died. 

It  was  a  stranger  thing  when  a  delirious  patient,  wearing  only  a 
scant  night  shirt,  escaped  from  the  tent  and  ran  barefooted  over  the 
frozen  snow-covered  ground,  with  half  a  dozen  hospital  attendants  pur 
suing  him  up  and  down  the  company  lines. 

"Mother"  Ferguson,  the  wife  of  John  Ferguson  of  Company  D, 
and  Mrs.  Britton  the  wife  of  the  wagoner  of  Company  B,  have  done 
many  kind  acts  for  the  sick  in  camp,  cooking  many  little  things  that  are 
more  relished  than  the  prescribed  boiled  rice. 

Better  arrangements  have  been  made.  A  large  old  house  standing 
on  a  high  ridge,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  camp,  abandoned 
by  its  former  occupants,  has  been  appropriated.  It  has  at  different 
times  been  the  home  of  the  Pinckneys,  the  Masons,  and  other  noted 
southern  families.  There  are  three  or  four  acres  of  yard  in  front  of 
the  house.  From  its  high  position  we  have  a  wide  prospect  far  across 
the  Potomac.  Toward  the  south  and  west  we  look  over  many  a  slope 
and  rounded  hill  full  of  the  stumps  of  former  woods,  and  covered  with 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  81 

wide  camps.  In  front  is  a  wide,  open,  gradual  hill  side,  the  drill  ground 
of  the  New  Jersey  brigade.  We  watch  the  drill  by  the  hour. 

Conspicuous  in  these  drills  is  the  one-armed  general  on  a  horse  the 
color  of  his  own  iron  gray  beard,  and  the  fine  white  horse  of  Lt.  Col. 
Torbert,  a  good  mark  for  the  enemy  in  battle. 

On  a  clear,  frosty  morning  we  can  hear  the  bugles  sounding  reveille 
in  all  the  regiments  around  about,  and  can  see  numberless  slender 
columns  of  smoke  rising  from  camp  fires. 

During  the  day  we  hear  the  monotonous  sound  of  the  practicing 
of  bugle  and  drum  corps. 

The  hospital  is  an  institution  as  necessary  in  war  as  a  battery  of 
artillery,  but  there  is  little  glory  to  write  of  here,  unless  the  world  will 
consent  to  consider  the  heroism  of  suffering  as  great  as  that  of  action. 
This  it  is  unwilling  to  do.  And  yet,  as  long  as  the  Crimean  war  is 
remembered,  the  terrible  suffering  and  mortality  will  be  told  of  as  often 
as  the  brilliant  deeds  of  arms  of  that  campaign.  Death  has  held  no 
such  revels  in  our  armies  as  he  held  then,  where,  only  when  compelled 
by  the  most  rigorous  sanitary  discipline,  he  sullenly  ''gathered  his  black 
skirts  about  him  and  stepped  out  of  camp." 

Florence  Nightingale  will  be  longer  and  better  remembered  than 
Raglan  and  Pelissier.  And  we  have  our  Dorothea  L  Dix  who  has  done 
so  much  to  better  the  condition  of  the  insane — to  bring  those  confined 
in  living  tombs  back  into  the  clear  daylight  of  reason — and  who  is  now 
devoting  her  time  and  her  resources  to  the  care  of  the  sick  in  our  camps 
and  hospitals.  And  she  has  many  helpers. 

A  strange  funeral  procession  you  would  think  it,  when  a  soldier 
dies  of  sickness.  Instead  of  a  black-plumed  hearse,  a  gun  carriage 
bearing  the  plain  pine  coffin,  followed  by  an  escort  of  soldiers  with  arms 
reversed,  marching  to  the  slow  beating  of  muffled  drums.  Over  the 
grave  they  fire  three  volleys,  the  farewell  tribute  to  the  dead  comrade 
who  has  not  been  permitted  to  fall  in  battle. 

Our  surgeons,  Doctors  Elliott  and  Beakes,  are  skilful  and  faithful. 
No  small  share  of  the  responsibility  rests  upon  the  hospital  stewards, 
Garrison,  Bowman  and  Roehrer.  The  last,  familiarly  called  little 
"Johnnie  Rusher,"  a  good  natured  young  German,  while  busy  filling 
prescriptions  is  always  singing, 

"My  father  he  has  three  ships  at  sa-a-a- 

Two  are  loaded  with  coffee  and  ta-a- 
And  one  with  three-square  gimlets." 

We  are  well  cared  for.  And  yet  it  is  a  weary  time  while  we  are 
trying  with  hospital  diet,  to  tempt  back  the  many  good  pounds  that 
were  frightened  away  by  racking  pains  or  a  raging  fever. 


82  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  convalescent  ward  is  a  large  room  in  the  south  wing,  once 
used  for  a  private  classical  school.  The  room  is  filled  with  cots  instead 
of  school  desks.  Many  books  were  left  behind  by  the  former  occupants. 
We  have  found  some  entertainment  in  them. 

There  are  good  fellows  here.  My  nearest  neighbor  is  an  honest, 
middle-aged  German  sergeant,  with  blue  eyes  and  a  full,  dark  brown 
beard  flowing  down  upon  his  breast.  With  his  broken  English  and  my 
halting  German  we  have  come  to  understand  each  other  well.  He  is 
an  educated  man,  and  often  talks  of  the  myths  and  traditions  of  the 
fatherland.  When  he  reads  his  letters  from  home  there  are  sometimes 
tears  in  his  eyes. 

"The  bravest  are  the  tenderest. 
The  loving  are  the  daring." 

On  pleasant  days  we  take  a  moderate  walk  down  to  camp  for  exer 
cise  and  to  see  how  things  are  going  on.  The  other  day  they  set  up  a 
new  flag  staff  and  raised  a  new  flag.  They  celebrated  the  occasion  with 
a  sort  of  jollification.  There  was  a  flow  of  spirits  and  eloquence.  The 
chaplain  retired  early.  One  of  the  majors  with  much  difficulty  and  con 
siderable  assistance  succeeded  in  climbing  up  one  side  of  his  horse, 
only  to  roll  off  on  the  other  side  and  fall  in  the  mud. 

Some  of  the  officers  have  their  wives  in  camp,  a  sort  of  keeping 
house  for  a  little  while  before  the  army  moves.  It  looks  homelike  to 
see  them. 

It  is  said  one  young  man  has  his  "wife  by  brevet,"  and  some  of  her 
friends  visiting  him. 

We  while  away  the  time  with  an  occasional  game  of  chess,  and 
compare  the  moves  of  the  pieces  to  the  strategic  moves  of  the  armies. 
The  pawns  are  now  the  skirmishers,  and  now  an  advancing  line  of 
infantry.  The  knights  are  quick-moving  cavalry  on  their  raids.  The 
rooks  are  the  artillery  that  sweep  long  straight  avenues  through  the 
ranks  of  the  enemy.  The  castles  are  strong  fortifications,  the  keys  to 
important  positions,  serving  to  hold  long  lines  of  defence.  At  Fort 
Donelson  Grant  has  taken  one  of  the  enemy's  castles.  We  end  our 
game,  and  look  up  to  see  what  moves  are  likely  to  be  made  on  our  side 
of  the  great  national  board. 

And  so  the  long  winter  passed  in  those  camps  that  for 
many  miles  covered  the  Virginia  hills.  With  their  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  men  they  presented  the  greatest  spectacle 
of  the  kind  in  our  history, — one  that  may  not  be  seen  again 


CLARENS  HOUSE  HOSPITAL. 


CAMP  KEARNEY.  83 

for  a  century.  In  the  spirit  that  animated  these  hosts  there 
was  a  mighty  significance.  It  was  the  early  morning  after 
riding  through  these  more  than  "a  hundred  circling  camps" 
that  Julia  Ward  Howe  wrote  down  the  words  that  had 
come  to  her  as  an  inspiration  in  the  silent  watches  of  the 
night, — the  Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic : 

Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord; 
He  is  trampling  out  the  vintage  where  the  grapes  of  wrath  are  stored ; 
He  hath  loosed  the  fateful  lightnings  of  his  terrible,  swift  sword : 
His  truth  is  marching  on ! 


CHAPTER  ix. 

THE  FIRST  ADVANCE. 

THE  President  had  published  an  order  directing  a  for 
ward  movement  of  the  armies  to  be  made  by  the  22nd 
of  February. 

Before  the  date  named  the  armies  of  the  west  had 
moved.  There  was  no  advance  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
until  March  7.  On  that  day  General  Kearney  marched  his 
brigade  out  along  the  line  of  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
railroad.  He  was  accompanied  by  Companies  A  and  H  of 
the  cavalry,  Captains  Jones  and  Stearns.  On  Sunday,  the 
9th,  a  working  party  was  building  a  bridge  near  Sangster's 
station.  It  was  noticed  that  a  Confederate  picket  was 
posted  in  the  edge  of  a  piece  of  woods  some  distance  to  the 
front,  on  the  farther  side  of  a  large  open  field.  The  gen 
eral  directed  Captain  Stearns  to  send  a  party  of  the  cavalry 
under  a  competent  officer  to  find  out  what  he  could  about 
the  enemy,  and  if  possible,  to  drive  them  away. 

Before  leaving  camp  Lieutenant  Hidden  had  said  to 
some  of  his  fellow  officers,  that  he  felt  that  something  seri 
ous  was  to  happen  to  him;  either  he  would  be  wounded  or 
taken  prisoner.  So  strong  was  this  feeling  that  he  decided 
to  leave  his  best  horse,  a  high  bred  charger,  in  camp,  not 
wishing  to  expose  him  to  any  danger.  Now  he  and  seven 
teen  men  from  the  two  companies  were  selected.  They  de 
ployed  and  rode  forward  until  they  had  drawn  the  fire  from 

84 


THE  FIRST  ADVANCE.  85 

the  enemy,  when  the  lieutenant  ordered  his  men  to  charge 
with  the  sabre.  The  horses  of  Corporal  Eugene  Lewis 
and  Hugh  McSorley  were  killed,  but  the  two  men  hurried 
forward  on  foot.  The  Confederates  hastened  to  get  over 
a  fence.  The  lieutenant's  horse  did  not  succeed  in  leaping 
the  fence.  He  turned  him  in  order  to  try  again,  when  a 
rebel  bullet  struck  him  in  the  left  shoulder  near  the  neck, 
and  passing  into  the  neck  cut  the  jugular  vein.  He  fell 
from  his  horse;  Corporal  Lewis  caught  and  mounted  the 
horse.  A  part  of  the  fence  some  of  the  men  had  torn  down, 
and  the  horsemen  were  over  the  fence  and  using  their  sabres 
on  the  enemy.  The  fight  was  determined  and  sharp.  The 
Confederates,  estimated  at  a  hundred  and  fifty,  fled.  Thir 
teen  were  taken  prisoners,  among  them  two  commissioned 
officers,  one  of  whom  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point. 
Three  had  been  killed  and  a  number  had  received  severe 
sabre  cuts. 

From  a  high  hill  General  Kearney  and  a  number  of 
other  officers  watched  the  affair.  The  general  became  ex 
cited  as  he  saw  the  bold  charge,  and  when  the  men  came 
back  he  took  each  by  the  hand  with  hearty  commendation. 

Lieutenant  William  Alexander  was  among  those  who 
saw  Lieutenant  Hidden  preparing  to  charge.  He  could  not 
restrain  himself,  but  galloped  forward  to  have  a  hand  in  the 
fight.  He  was  but  a  short  distance  from  Hidden  when  the 
latter  fell  from  his  horse.  He  dismounted  and  bent  over 
the  fallen  officer  and  called  him  by  name,  but  he  was  already 
dead.  He  lifted  the  lifeless  lieutenant  in  his  arms,  and 
bore  him  from  the  field. 

The  young  officer  was  from  a  wealthy  New  York  fam 
ily,  related  to  William  Webb,  the  noted  ship  builder.  He 
was  of  fine  personal  appearance,  active,  intelligent,  a  man 
of  the  highest  honor,  in  his  duties  strict  yet  considerate, 
honored  by  officers  and  men.  General  Kearney  in  his  re- 


86 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 


port  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  those  who  had  taken  part 
in  this  action,  "one  of  whom,  Lieutenant  Hidden,  has  illus 
trated  in  the  sacrifice  of  his  life,  the  whole  cavalry  service; 
he  has  introduced  for  it  a  new  era."  Resolutions  express 
ing  the  high  appreciation  and  deep  feeling  of  his  fellow 
officers  were  forwarded  to  the  family.  He  was  buried  in 
Greenwood  Cemetery  with  military  honors.  The  funeral 
procession  was  escorted  by  a  battalion  of  the  Twenty-sec 
ond  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  and  a  company  of  the  Seventy-first  as 
a  guard  of  honor.  His  favorite  horse,  wearing  all  the 
trappings  of  war,  followed  his  dead  master.  A  costly 
monument  bearing  a  fitting  representation  stands  over  his 
grave,  and  a  painting  representing  the  charge  in  which  he 
fell  has  been  placed  in  the  rooms  of  the  Historical  Society 
in  New  York. 

Lieutenant  Hidden  was  the  first  cavalry  officer  killed 
in  action  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and,  it  is  believed, 
the  first  officer  of  Union  volunteer  cavalry  killed  in  the 
war.  The  following  lines  suggested  by  his  daring  charge 
appeared  in  the  N.  Y.  Evening  Post : 


"Will  you  follow  me  now?" 

Cried  the  gallant  young  chief, 
On  the  eve  of  a  life 

That  was  mournfully  brief; 
"Will  you  follow  me  now 

Through  a  tempest  of  lead — 
Through  yon  thicket  of  steel 

And  a  wall  of  the  dead, 
And  prove  to  you  traitors, 

Besotted  and  fell 
That  the  clink  of  our  sabres 

Is  slavery's  knell?" 
"To  the  death,  to  the  death !" 

Was  the  gallant  reply; 
"What  boots  a  few  hours 

When  all  men  must  die?" 


"Then  charge!"  was  the  mandate, 

And  coldly  and  grim, 
Through  the  billowy  smoke 

His  wild  steed  seemed  to  swim. 
Twelve  heroes  they  were 
By  a  demi-god  led, 
At  each  sweep  of  whose  sabre 

A  traitor  lay  dead. 
All  brief  as  a  storm 

In  the  summer's  red  heat, 
Was  their  deadly  onslaught, 

And  the  rebel  retreat; 
When  the  foemen  had  fled, 

And  each  hero  had  taken 
A  red-handed  knave 

By  his  comrades  forsaken; 


UEBTEN  ANT  HENRY  B  HIDDEN 


IMMIX    IX    \im 

KILLED  AT  SAXGSTER  S  STATION,  VIHGINIA. 
MARCH    9th    1862. 

AT  THE  AGE  OF  TWENTY-THREE  YEARS, 


..  :    <> 


HIDDEN'S  MONUMENT. 


THE  FIRST  ADVANCE.  87 

While  their  glad  shout  of  triumph  No  more  in  the  van 

Still  shivered  the  air,  Shall  his  bright  sabre  gleam, 

Ere  its  last  echo  died  Nor  the  soldierly  grace 

It  was  changed  to  despair.  Of  his  figure  be  seen ; 

"What,  tears?  my  brave  fellows,  But  oft  at  the  shrine 

I  trust  not  for  me;  Where  the  young  hero  sleeps, 

Never  weep  for  a  soldier  While  the  sad  whip-poor-will 

Who  dies  for  the  free.  Her  lone  ministry  keeps, 

Of  my  blood,  hopes  and  fortune  Shall  the  child  of  the  free 

Most  freely  I  give.  And  the  son  of  the  slave 

For  'tis  glorious  to  die  Yet  mingle  their  tears 

That  the  nation  may  live !"  O'er  his  idolized  grave ! 

— A.  WATERS. 


Those  who  took  part  in  this  charge  with  Lieutenant 
Hidden  were  Corporal  Eugene  Lewis,  Privates  John  Bo- 
gert,  John  Cameron,  Herman  Cameron,  Robert  C.  Clark, 
Chester  C.  Clark,  Henry  Higgins,  Charles  P.  Ives,  James 
Lynch,  Hugh  McSorley,  Martin  Murray,  John  Nugent, 
Michael  O'Neal,  Cornelius  Riley,  William  Simonson, 
Albert  H.  Van  Saun,  John  R.  Wilson. 

General  Kearney  highly  commended  the  conduct  of 
Corporal  Lewris  who  led  the  men  in  the  charge  after  the 
death  of  the  lieutenant,  and  urged  his  appointment  as  an 
officer. 

Hugh  McSorley  was  endowed  with  a  propensity  for 
fighting.  This  had  frequently  led  him  into  difficulty.  He 
had  often  been  in  the  guard  house,  and  once  had  been  con 
demned  to  wear  an  iron  ball  attached  to  his  ankle  by  a 
heavy  chain.  He  laid  all  his  troubles  to  the  rebels  who  had 
brought  on  the  war,  and  promised  to  pay  them  off  if  he 
ever  had  a  chance.  In  this  first  chance  he  redeemed  his 
promise.  He  rushed  right  in  among  the  enemy  and  laid 
about  him  right  and  left  with  all  his  might,  till  they  fled 
into  the  woods. 

At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  loth  orders  were 


88  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

sent  around  to  the  companies  remaining  in  camp  to  be  in 
readiness  to  move.  It  proved  to  be  a  rainy  morning,  and 
the  start  was  not  made  until  eleven  o'clock.  Then  in  a 
cold,  drizzling  rain  we  moved  out  on  the  road  that  led  past 
the  hospital,  and  striking  the  Little  River  road,  turned  to 
the  right  toward  Fairfax  Court  House.  On  different  roads 
could  be  seen  large  bodies  of  infantry,  each  waiting  to  take 
its  place  in  the  long  column  that  filled  the  Little  River  road. 
It  was  soon  evident  that  the  whole  army  was  on  the  march. 
A  detail  of  a  sergeant  and  several  men  from  the  cavalry 
was  ordered  to  report  to  each  of  the  brigade  commanders 
as  orderlies. 

In  the  afternoon  the  rain  ceased  and  the  rest  of  the 
march  to  Fairfax  Court  House  was  not  unpleasant.  Bayard 
Taylor,  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  rode  with 
General  Slocum's  staff,  and  that  night  was  allotted  sleep 
ing  room  on  the  floor  of  an  abandoned  house  occupied  as 
headquarters.  Several  copies  of  the  Tribune  had  been  sent 
gratuitously  to  be  circulated  through  the  regiment.  The 
men,  knowing  that  Mr.  Taylor's  letters  would  appear  in 
the  paper,  were  watching  all  the  features  of  the  day's  march 
to  see  how  clearly  their  impressions  would  agree  with  his. 
When  the  papers  were  received  and  read  it  was  observed 
that  the  practiced  eye  of  the  eminent  traveler  had  seen,  and 
his  ready  pen  had  recorded,  many  things  that  our  untrained 
eyes  had  failed  to  notice. 

Before  we  had  reached  Fairfax  Court  House  General 
McClellan  and  his  staff  rode  on  to  the  front,  and,  as  usual, 
his  appearance  was  greeted  with  hearty  cheers  all  along 
the  column. 

Tents  had  been  left  standing  in  the  camps.  Each  man 
had  been  provided  with  a  house  that  he  could  carry  with 
him,  a  piece  of  light  canvas  about  six  by  three  and  a  half 
or  four  feet,  with  means  of  fastening  along  the  edges. 


THE  FIRST  ADVANCE.  89 

Two  or  more  men  by  uniting  these  could  make  a  low  but 
comfortable  tent. 

A  little  before  night  we  reached  Fairfax  Court  House. 
Many  of  the  white  people  had  abandoned  their  homes  and 
gone.  Their  houses  made  comfortable  headquarters  for 
the  commanders  of  divisions  and  brigades,  as  well  as  for 
the  general-in-chief. 

The  night  was  chilly  and  fires  were  a  necessity  for 
comfort  as  well  as  cooking.  A  colonel  sent  to  General  Slo- 
cum  asking  if  it  was  necessary  to  protect  an  old  fence  that 
stood  by  the  side  of  the  field  where  his  regiment  was  to  stay. 
The  reply  was,  "No;  if  you  want  it  for  fires  take  it."  It 
was  not  the  general's  idea  of  military  propriety  to  have  his 
men  suffer  from  cold,  and  at  the  same  time  keep  guard  over 
such  convenient  material  for  fires  that  had  been  abandoned 
by  its  owners.  Some  of  the  colonels  gave  orders  that  only 
the  top  rail,  or  board,  should  be  taken.  Wanton  destruc 
tion  of  property  was  not  allowed,  and  yet  some  of  the  first 
comers  broke  into  the  court  house  and  began  to  scatter 
around  the  masses  of  documents  that  had  been  stored  there 
from  early  times.  They  were  relic  hunters  in  the  army. 
As  soon  as  possible  this  destruction  was  stopped. 

After  the  affair  at  Sangster's  station  General  Kearney 
had  pushed  forward.  Colonel  Taylor  with  the  Third  New 
Jersey  as  an  advance  guard  pushed  on  in  two  columns. 
Captain  Jones  with  the  cavalry  pressed  on  through  Centre- 
ville  and  reached  Manassas  late  in  the  evening  of  the  xoth. 
They  rested  there  for  the  night,  and  early  in  the  morning  of 
the  nth  saw  the  flag  of  Colonel  Taylor  raised  over  the 
enemy's  works.  On  returning  toward  Centreville  they  met 
Colonel  Averell  of  the  Third  Pennsylvania  advancing  with 
skirmishers  thrown  out,  thinking  that  possibly  the  men 
whom  he  had  seen  were  Confederates.  There  were  indica 
tions  that  the  enemv  had  abandoned  their  works  in  some 


90  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

haste.  Provisions  and  cooking  utensils  had  been  left  be 
hind.  From  what  was  learned  afterwards,  it  appeared  that 
the  work  of  withdrawing  had  been  decided  upon,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  army  had  been  withdrawn  deliberately, 
and  it  was  the  last,  or  rear  guard,  that  had  retired  in  some 
haste. 

The  defences  around  Centreville  and  Manassas  were 
extensive,  but  not  very  formidable.  They  consisted  mostly 
of  lines  of  rifle  pits  and  low  earthworks,  over  which  horses 
could  be  ridden  without  much  difficulty.  In  some  places 
the  works  were  higher  and  would  have  been  difficult  to 
assail. 

Some  affirmed  and  others  denied  that  "Quaker  guns" 
were  found  in  the  earthworks.  General  Johnston  himself 
admits  that  to  conceal  his  want  of  artillery  he  had  placed  a 
number  of  logs  to  represent  cannons. 

From  the  long  line  of  log  huts  that  had  been  used  for 
winter  quarters  estimates  were  made  as  to  the  numbers  that 
had  been  there.  The  average  of  these  estimates  was  about 
60,000.  Confederate  reports,  it  was  learned  afterward, 
gave  a  little  more  than  50,000. 

A  ride  at  night  among  the  various  camps  brought  into 
view  square  miles,  it  seemed,  of  camp  fires  that  shone  like 
stars  for  multitude.  We  were  favored  with  moonlight 
nights,  and  the  scenes  presented  cannot  easily  be  forgotten 
by  those  who  beheld  them. 

It  was  a  subject  of  conjecture  why  we  had  marched  out 
here  after  the  Confederates  had  gone,  and  why  we  were 
waiting  now.  The  news  of  the  Monitor's  victory  over  the 
Merrimac  and  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  had  reached  us. 
What  were  we  going  to  do  ? 

General  McClellan  called  a  council  of  his  corps  com 
manders  and  issued  the  following  address  to  the  army : 


THE  FIRST  ADVANCE.  91 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

FAIRFAX  COURT  HOUSE,  VA, 

March   I4th,   1862. 
Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac: 

For  a  long  time  I  have  kept  you  inactive,  but  not  without  a  pur 
pose.  You  were  to  be  disciplined,  armed  and  instructed.  The  formid 
able  artillery  you  have  had  to  be  created.  Other  armies  were  to  move 
and  accomplish  certain  results.  I  have  held  you  back  that  you  might 
give  the  death  blow  to  the  rebellion  that  has  distracted  our  once  happy 
country.  The  patience  you  have  shown,  and  the  confidence  in  your 
general,  are  worth  a  dozen  victories.  These  preliminary  results  are 
now  accomplished.  I  feel  that  the  patient  labors  of  many  months 
have  produced  their  fruit.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  now  a  real 
army,  magnificent  in  material,  admirable  in  discipline  and  instruction, 
and  excellently  equipped  and  armed.  Your  commanders  are  all  that 
I  could  wish.  The  moment  for  action  has  arrived,  and  I  know  that  I 
can  trust  in  you  to  save  our  country.  As  I  ride  through  your  ranks  I 
see  in  your  faces  the  sure  prestige  of  victory.  I  feel  that  you  will  do 
whatever  I  ask  of  you.  The  period  of  inaction  has  passed.  I  will 
bring  you  now  face  to  face  with  the  rebels,  and  only  pray  that  God  may 
defend  the  right.  In  whatever  direction  you  may  move,  however 
strange  my  actions  may  appear  to  you,  ever  bear  in  mind  that  my  fate 
is  linked  with  yours,  and  that  all  I  do  is  to  bring  you  where  I  know 
you  wish  to  be,  on  the  decisive  battle  field.  It  is  my  business  to  place 
you  there.  I  am  to  watch  over  you  as  a  parent  watches  over  his 
children,  and  you  know  that  your  general  loves  you  from  the  depths 
of  his  heart.  It  shall  be  my  care — it  has  ever  been — to  gain  success 
with  the  least  possible  loss.  But  I  know  that  if  it  is  necessary  you 
will  willingly  follow  me  to  our  graves  for  our  righteous  cause.  God 
smiles  upon  us.  Yet  I  would  not  have  you  think  that  our  aim  is  to  be 
obtained  without  a  manly  struggle.  I  will  not  disguise  it  from  you 
that  you  have  brave  foes  to  encounter — foemen  well  worthy  of  the 
steel  you  use  so  well.  I  shall  demand  of  you  great,  heroic  exertions, 
rapid  and  long  marches,  desperate  combats,  privations  perhaps.  We 
will  share  all  these  together,  and  when  this  sad  war  is  over  we  will 
return  to  our  homes,  and  feel  that  we  can  ask  no  honor  than  the  proud 
consciousness  that  we  belonged  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

GEORGE  B.  MCCLELLAN, 

Major  General  Commanding." 

On  this  same  day  we  began  our  march  back  to  our  old 
camps,  with  the  expectation  that  we  were  to  be  transported 
down  the  Potomac. 


92  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

General  McClellair  s  address  to  his  army  was  intended 
to  arouse  the  courage  and  enthusiasm  of  the  men.  The 
army  was  not  wanting  in  courage  and  devotion.  It  was 
made  up  of  men  who  had  responded  to  the  first  call  from 
the  sense  of  duty,  and  with  no  extra  inducements.  They 
were  ready  for  service. 

Those  who  remembered  McClellan's  repeated  promises 
during  the  fall  and  winter,  that  a  movement  would  soon  be 
made,  were  a  little  suspicious  that  he  was  not  quite  so  sure 
in  his  own  mind  as  to  the  vigorous  campaigns  that  he  pro 
posed  to  inaugurate  as  was  indicated  in  his  address.  The 
army  had  in  one  day  marched  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  sev 
enteen  miles,  without  special  inconvenience.  Detachments 
had  gone  on  to  Centreville  and  Manassas  after  the  enemy 
had  left.  And  now  we  were  all  ordered  back.  Why  had 
we  come?  The  men  were  obedient  to  orders,  but  they 
could  not  be  deprived  of  the  right  to  exercise  their  private 
judgment. 

The  morning  of  the  9th  of  March  the  news  of  the  Mer- 
rimac's  doings  reached  Washington,  creating  intense  anxi 
ety,  and  on  the  part  of  some,  consternation.  Late  in  the 
afternoon  came  the  news  of  the  Monitor's  victory.  At  the 
same  time  came  the  news  that  the  Confederate  batteries  on 
the  Potomac  had  been  abandoned,  and  that  the  army  at 
Manassas  had  been  withdrawn.  McClellan  was  with  the 
President  and  secretary  of  war  when  these  reports  came. 
He  received  the  message  "with  incredulity,  which  at  last 
gave  way  to  stupefaction."  He  started  at  once  across  the 
river,  ostensibly  to  verify  the  report,  and  issued  an  order 
that  night  for  an  immediate  advance  of  the  army  upon 
Centreville  and  Manassas. 

In  his  elaborate  report  made  a  year  later  McClellan 
says  that  the  retirement  of  the  enemy  toward  Richmond  had 
been  expected  as  the  natural  consequence  of  the  movement 


THE  FIRST  ADVANCE.  93 

to  the  Peninsula.  The  statement  of  General  Johnston  and 
the  official  correspondence  of  the  Confederate  officers  show 
that  nearly  a  month  before,  the  Confederate  government  had 
concluded  that  the  position  at  Manassas  was  untenable,  and 
that  Johnston,  having  the  same  opinion,  had  begun  his  pre 
parations  to  withdraw  on  the  22nd  of  February.  He  had 
not  yet  learned  of  McClellan's  plan  to  go  to  the  Peninsula, 
but  was  expecting  an  attack  direct  from  Washington,  and 
did  not  feel  able  to  withstand  such  an  attack.  He  did  not 
feel  sure  as  to  the  destination  of  the  movement  down  the 
Chesapeake  until  he  learned,  on  the  5th  of  April,  that  a 
landing  had  been  made  below  Yorktown. 

The  direct  distance  from  Washington  to  Richmond 
was  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles.  Six  days  march 
ing  would  have  placed  the  army  in  front  of  Richmond,  pro 
vided  the  enemy  continued  to  fall  back.  It  was  about 
eighty  miles  from  Fortress  Monroe  to  Richmond.  York- 
town  was  more  strongly  fortified  than  any  place  between 
Manassas  and  Richmond.  The  gathering  of  that  great 
fleet  of  transports,  at  an  enormous  expense,  with  all  the 
time  consumed  in  delays  and  the  transportation,  could  save 
them  three  days  foot  marching,  about  forty  miles. 

McClellan's  explanation  of  the  march  to  Fairfax  Court 
House  and  back,  after  he  knew  that  the  enemy  had  gone, 
was  that  he  wished  to  give  the  army  a  little  exercise  in 
marching,  and  to  give  the  men  a  chance  to  get  rid  of  their 
surplus  baggage,  which  had  accumulated  during  the  winter 
in  camp. 

Lincoln  urged  a  direct  advance  from  Washington 
toward  Richmond.  Frederick sburg,  about  half  way,  was 
only  thirteen  miles  from  Acquia  Creek,  a  convenient  base 
of  supplies.  In  the  light  of  later  events  it  would  seem  that 
Lincoln  was  a  better  general  than  McClellan. 

The  1 5th  the  men  made  themselves  comfortable  in  their 


94  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

old  tents  at  Camp  Kearney.  Day  after  day  troops  were 
marching  to  Alexandria  and  embarking  on  the  transports. 
All  sorts  of  craft  were  collected;  Sound  steamers  that  we 
had  seen  going  up  and  down  in  front  of  our  camps  at  Belle- 
vue  Garden ;  schooners,  barges  and  towing  tugs. 

On  the  1 8th  Heintzelman's  division  embarked.  At 
dress  parade  on  this  day  there  were  read  McClellan's  ad 
dress  to  the  army  and  Kearney's  report  commending  the 
conduct  of  those  engaged  in  the  spirited  charge  of  the  gth. 
News  came  of  Union  success  at  New  Madrid. 

The  iQth  McClellan  reviewed  McDowell's  corps.  He 
was  heartily  cheered  as  he  rode  along  the  lines,  the  men 
seeming  to  believe  that  the  general  was  able  to  fulfill  the 
promises  made  in  his  address. 

The  23rd  a  diary  reads : 

"Obtained  a  pass  to  go  to  Alexandria  to  church,  the  first  day  in 
church  since  we  men  were  encamped  at  Bellevue  Garden  in  New  York. 
It  was  the  church  Washington  attended.  Looked  at  the  square  pew 
in  which  he  used  to  sit.  It  is  marked  by  an  inscribed  plate  on  the 
railing.  Talked  with  an  intelligent  old  colored  woman  who  said  that 
she  was  one  of  Washington's  slaves,  set  free  at  his  death,  then  twelve 
years  old.  She  looks  seventy-four.  Not  impossible." 

The  25th  another  review  by  McClellan  of  McDowell's 
corps,  about  forty  regiments,  an  imposing  sight.  There 
was  a  marked  contrast  between  the  two  generals,  the  one 
slight  built,  quick,  nervous,  whom  the  men  could  not  for 
bear  to  cheer;  the  other  larger,  slower,  with  little  grace  of 
manner,  but  evidently  an  officer  of  ability,  not  withstanding 
the  accident  at  Bull  Run,  for  he  had  planned  the  battle  well. 

At  dress  parade  on  the  26th  there  were  read  the  pro 
ceedings  of  a  court  martial  sentencing  two  men  of  Com 
pany  M  to  be  dishonorably  discharged  and  to  be  confined 
for  ten  years  in  the  D.  C.  penitentiary,  the  one  for  striking, 
and  the  other  for  aiming  a  carbine  at  Lieutenant  Prender- 
gast. 


THE  FIRST  ADVANCE.  95 

News  was  received  of  a  battle  at  Winchester  fought  by 
some  of  Banks'  command.  From  10,000  to  20,000  men 
embarking  daily  at  Alexandria,  and  the  newspapers  were 
not  allowed  to  publish  anything  about  it. 

On  the  2/th  was  another  review  of  McDowell's  corps 
by  McClellan.  Lord  Lyons  rode  with  McClellan's  staff. 
Some  New  Jersey  troops  brought  a -number  of  prisoners, 
Texan  rangers,  taken  near  Dumfries. 

From  March  3Oth  to  April  3rd  was  wet,  snowy  and 
cold.  At  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  April  4th  orders  were 
given  to  be  ready  to  march.  The  regiment  was  on  the 
way  at  nine  and  reached  Centreville  at  five,  and  took  pos 
session  of  the  comfortable  huts  within  the  Confederate 
earthworks.  Off  to  the  west  was  a  wide  level  plain  reach 
ing  to  Bull  Run  Mountains.  The  country  around  was  deso 
late.  The  morning  of  the  5th  we  started  in  a  cold  rain, 
crossed  Bull  Run  at  Blackburn's  ford,  reached  Manassas, 
seven  miles,  about  noon  and  made  ourselves  comfortable  as 
possible  in  the  huts  of  the  enemy.  The  next  day  parties  of 
men  rode  over  the  battlefield.  Skeletons  of  horses  and  of 
men  that  had  been  covered  thinly  with  earth  were  here  and 
there  to  be  seen. 

General  Franklin's  division  was  part  of  McDowell's 
corps.  While  McClellan's  plan  wras  to  transport  the  main 
part  of  the  army  to  the  Peninsula  bet\veen  the  York  and 
James  rivers,  McDowell's  corps  was  to  remain  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fredericksburg  on  the  direct  line  between  Washington 
and  Richmond.  This  was  for  the  purpose  of  protecting 
the  capital.  This  corps  was  thus  in  a  position  where,  in 
case  of  special  need,  it  could  co-operate  with  the  main  army 
in  front  of  Richmond,  or  with  that  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley. 

The  7th  of  April  it  rained  and  snowed.  The  storm 
continued  all  night.  On  the  morning  of  the  Qth  it  was  still 


96  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

storming.  Possibly  in  the  hope  that  the  storm  would  soon 
cease,  orders  were  given  for  the  division  to  move  forward. 
The  storm  continued.  The  roads  became  almost  impass 
able  for  artillery.  Creeks  rose  so  that  it  was  difficult  to 
ford  them.  The  storm  continued  during  the  9th,  and  the 
men  and  horses  suffered  terribly  from  exposure  and  from 
the  difficulty  of  transporting  supplies. 

The  loth  the  cavalry  went  on  as  far  as  Catlett's  sta 
tion.  In  trying  to  ford  Broad  Run,  some  of  the  officers 
were  carried  down  the  stream  and  were  rescued  with  diffi 
culty. 

At  Catlett's  station  orders  were  received  for  Franklin's 
division  to  return  to  Alexandria.  The  division  was  de 
tached  from  McDowell's  corps  and  was  to  join  the  main 
army  under  McClellan  on  the  Peninsula.  The  nth, 
marched  back  to  Manassas. 

The  old  Confederate  huts  afforded  a  welcome  resting 
place.  Each  one  would  accommodate  quite  a  number,  and 
the  men  made  themselves  comfortable. 

One  had  confiscated  somewhere  what  he  thought  might 
be  a  prize,  an  unlabeled  bottle  of  a  brown  colored  liquid. 
Williamson  expressed  his  suspicions  that  the  Confederates 
had  poisoned  it  and  left  it  on  purpose;  he  could  tell  by  just 
tasting  it.  He  "just  tasted,"  made  a  wry  face,  shuddered, 
gave  the  wink  to  the  rest  and  passed  it  around.  Each  in 
turn  "just  tasted",  and  was  suspicious.  It  came  back  to  the 
finder  containing  only  the  smell  of — the  choicest  brandy. 

They  talked  over  the  probabilities.  Haggens  said  he 
thought  there  would  be  an  "armystic."  "Armystic !  What's 
that?"  "Why,  when  those  carrying  on  war  agree  not  to 
do  any  fighting."  "Oh,  you  mean  an  armistice,  don't 
you?"  "Yes,  I  know  people  generally  call  it  armistice,  but 
I  pronounce  it  armystic."  He  generally  knew  what  he  was 
talking  about  and  may  have  had  in  mind  the  mystic  mill- 


THE  FIRST  ADVANCE.  97 

tary  movements  that  were  being  made,  and  which  the 
papers  were  not  allowed  to  publish. 

The  morning  of  the  I2th  the  cavalry  was  early  on  the 
march.  After  resting  at  Centreville  and  again  at  Fairfax 
Court  House,  they  reached  Camp  Kearney  at  dark.  The 
next  day  they  rested  in  their  quarters,  and  posted  them 
selves  on  the  events  that  had  transpired  elsewhere  while 
they  had  been  taking  part  in  this  "grand  promenade,"  as 
the  Count  of  Paris  called  it,  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 

The  afternoon  of  the  I4th  they  left  Camp  Kearney 
finally,  and  pitched  their  little  shelter  tents  of  light  canvas 
and  oil  cloth  along  the  side  of  a  street  in  the  outskirts  of 
Alexandria. 

The  following  order  wras  published : 

HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  DIVISION, 

April  13,  1862. 
General  Order,  No.  37. 

It  is  ordered  that  the  artillery  and  cavalry  will  commence  embark 
ing  from  Alexandria  to-morrow  morning,  9  a.m.  Colonel  McReynolds 
is  directed  to  consult  Lieutenant  Ferguson  about  transportation.  No 
cavalrymen  will  be  embarked  who  are  not  mounted,  and  no  cavalry 
horses  that  are  not  in  good  condition.  Colonel  McReyonlds  will  make 
requisition  for  full  sets  of  intrenching  tools — spades,  picks,  shovels  and 
axes. 

By  order  of  General  Franklin. 

E.  SPARROWS  PURDY, 

Captain  and  Ass't  Adjt.  General. 

It  raised  the  question,  "Was  the  cavalry  to  fight  in  in- 
trenchments  ?" 


CHAPTER  X. 
THE  PENINSULA. 

THE  i Qth  of  April  the  fleet  carrying  Franklin's  division, 
without  any  special  incident,  moved  steadily  down 
the  Potomac  and  the  Chesapeake.  The  convoy  of  gunboats 
was  under  the  command  of  Captain  Amos  P.  Foster  of  the 
Satellite.  The  day  was  pleasant  and  the  ride  enjoyable. 
In  the  lower  bay  the  light  swell  gave  the  schooners  a  slight 
rocking  motion  that  was  a  new  experience  to  those  who  had 
never  before  been  on  so  wide  a  water.  Some  distance  short 
of  its  destination  the  fleet  anchored  for  the  night.  The  2Oth 
was  windy,  rainy  and  cold.  A  few  hours  brought  us  into 
Poquosin  river  and  all  the  craft  came  to  anchor  off  Ship 
Point. 

The  2  ist  was  cold  and  rainv.     It  was  uncomfortable 

J 

for  both  men  and  horses.  The  latter  were  arranged  in  long- 
rows  each  side  of  the  deck,  facing  inward,  compelled  to 
stand  constantly,  and  with  no  shelter  from  the  storm.  The 
quarters  of  the  men  were  in  the  close  hold  of  the  schooner, 
lying  around  in  the  softest  spots  they  could  find,  some  on 
piles  of  coal,  or  anywhere  where  they  could  lay  their  equip 
ments  and  blankets.  The  roll  was  regularly  called,  the  men 
lying  here  and  there  answering  to  their  names,  and  the  ser 
geant  who,  stationed  at  the  hatchway,  repeated  the  names 
as  they  were  called  by  the  orderly,  gave  the  usual  command 
as  the  last  name  was  reached — "Break  ranks,  march." 


THE  PENINSULA.  99 

The  next  day  the  weather  brightened  and  the  men  had 
a  chance  to  look  around.  We  were  in  historic  waters.  Off 
the  mouth  of  this  Poqousin  river  the  French  fleet  lay  in  the 
fall  of  1781,  to  keep  the  British  fleet  from  carrying  assist 
ance  to  Cornwallis,  who  was  besieged  by  the  French  and 
Continental  armies  at  Yorktown. 

The  land  was  generally  sandy,  level  and  low,  with 
many  pleasant  places  and  patches  of  good  farming  land.  In 
making  explorations  around  the  country  it  wras  found  that 
the  white  men  were  mostly  in  the  southern  army,  while  the 
women  with  a  few  colored  people  were  left  to  take  care  of 
themselves  as  best  they  could.  There  was  a  mixture  of  in 
telligent  people  with  ignorant  ones.  The  question  was  often 
asked,  "What  have  you'uns  come  down  to  fight  we'uns 
for?" 

The  occupation  of  many  of  the  inhabitants  had  been 
fishing.  The  men  soon  learned  that  they  were  among  the 
famous  oyster  waters  of  Virginia,  and  every  little  water 
craft  that  could  be  found,  the  boats  belonging  to  the 
schooners,  skiffs,  and  dugouts  found  along  the  shores,  and 
improvised  rafts,  were  put  to  use  by  the  enlisted  men  and 
officers,  who  were  busy  all  day  "a  rakin'  among  the  oyster 
beds." 

Some  depredations  among  the  pigs  and  chickens  of  the 
people  led  to  some  restrictions  of  the  privilege  of  going  on 
shore.  Life  became  monotonous  on  these  boats,  and  there 
was  general  impatience  at  the  delay  in  disembarking. 
General  Kearney,  whose  headquarters  were  on  the  steamer 
"Elm  City,"  was  unrestricted  in  his  expressions  of  impa 
tience,  and  General  Franklin  went  out  to  the  front  to  see 
what  was  the  cause  of  the  delay.  The  horses'  legs  were 
swollen  and  stiff  from  long  standing,  and  they  might  be 
come  useless.  Land  was  close  by.  It  was  rumored  that 
we  were  to  go  to  Gloucester  Point  and  disembark  under 


100  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  protection  of  gunboats,  and  we  were  waiting  for  the 
gunboats.  It  was  rumored  that  McClellan  had  again 
changed  his  plan,  and  we  were  to  wait  here  until  he  could 
get  his  new  plan  into  shape. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  B.  S.  Alexander,  an  engineer  offi 
cer  of  the  regular  army,  was  assigned  to  the  division  staff, 
and  he  began  to  collect  material,  mostly  in  the  shape  of  the 
old  boats,  for  landing.  Finally  on  the  26th  and  2/th  the 
artillery  and  horses  of  the  cavalry  were  put  ashore  at 
Cheesman's  landing,  some  distance  above  Ship  Point.  The 
horses  enjoyed  being  on  land  once  more.  As  boys  let  loose 
from  a  day's  confinement  in  school,  they  manifested  the  ap 
preciation  of  their  freedom  by  rolling  in  the  sand,  capering 
about  and  cutting  up  all  the  antics  possible.  Picket  ropes 
were  stretched  in  the  thickets  of  pine,  and  the  men  pitched 
their  tents  along  the  banks  of  the  creek.  It  was  not  until 
the  2nd  of  May  that  all  the  companies  with  all  their  belong 
ings  were  safe  on  shore. 

Formidable  earthworks  had  been  constructed  by  the 
Confederates.  Ship  Point  was  the  left  of  their  first  line  of 
defence,  which  reached  across  the  Peninsula  to  the  James 
river.  Concluding  that  this  would  be  untenable,  they  had 
constructed  a  second  line  at  Yorktown,  and  along  the  War 
wick  river  to  the  James.  McClellan  had  advanced  his  forces 
until  the  opposing  lines  were  only  about  a  mile  apart.  He 
had  placed  guns  in  position,  and  was  preparing  for  a  regu 
lar  siege.  Ever  since  we  had  arrived  off  Ship  Point  we 
had  heard  the  occasional  firing  of  these  heavy  guns. 

In  transporting  the  army  from  Alexandria  to  the  Pen 
insula  there  had  been  employed  13  steamers,  188  schooners, 
and  88  barges.  Besides  the  soldiers  there  had  been  con 
veyed  44  batteries,  14,592  animals,  1,150  wagons,  74  ambu 
lances,  several  pontoon  bridges,  material  for  telegraphs  and 
an  immense  amount  of  equipage. 


THE  PENINSULA.  101 

The  country  over  which  the  army  was  to  move  was 
generally  low.  Small  bridges  had  to  be  built,  and  wet  roads 
corduroyed.  The  conditions  for  moving  were  worse  than 
in  front  of  Manassas.  The  position  at  Manassas  could  have 
been  flanked.  Here  the  left  of  the  enemy's  position  rested 
on  the  York  river  and  the  right  upon  the  James.  There 
was  no  chance  to  get  around  either  flank  except  by  cross 
ing  one  river  or  the  other.  What  had  been  gained  by  this 
great  movement? 

A  British  officer,  Colonel  Freemantle,  who  spent  three 
months  with  the  Confederate  army,  says  Magruder  "told 
him  the  different  dodges  he  resorted  to  to  blind  and  deceive 
McClellan  as  to  his  strength,  and  was  greatly  amused  and 
relieved  when  he  saw  that  general  with  his  magnificent 
army  begin  to  break  ground  before  miserable  earthworks 
defended  by  only  8,000  men." 

On  the  1 7th  of  April,  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  who 
had  fallen  back  from  the  Rapidan,  arrived  at  Yorktown 
and  took  command.  He  had  53,000  men.  McClellan  at 
this  time  had  about  112,000  men,  besides  the  13,000  of 
Franklin's  division,  yet  on  board  the  transports. 

Johnston  concluded  that  the  position  at  Yorktown 
could  not  be  held,  and  on  the  27th  began  preparations  to 
withdraw. 

There  was  consternation  in  Richmond.  A  rebel  war 
clerk's  diary  reads : 

"April  18, — The  President  is  thin  and  haggard;  and  it  has  been 
whispered  on  the  street  that  he  will  immediately  be  baptized  and  con 
firmed.  April  19, — All  believe  we  are  near  a  crisis,  involving  the  pos 
session  of  the  capital.  April  26, — General  Lee  is  doing  good  service 
in  bringing  forward  reinforcements  from  the  South  against  the  day  of 
trial— and  an  awful  day  awaits  us.  May  8,— Norfolk  and  Portsmouth 
are  evacuated !  Our  army  is  falling  back !  The  Merrimac  is  to  be,  or 
has  been,  blown  up!  May  g, — No  one,  scarcely,  supposes  that  Rich 
mond  will  be  defended.  May  10,— The  President's  family  has  departed 


102  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

for  Raleigh,  and  the  families  of  most  of  the  cabinet  to  their  respective 
homes,  or  other  places  of  refuge.  The  President  has  been  baptized 
(at  home)  and  privately  confirmed  in  St.  Paul's  Church.  May  14, — 
Our  army  has  fallen  back  to  within  four  miles  of  the  city.  May  16, — 
McClellan  is  intrenching — that  is,  at  least,  significant  of  a  respite,  and  of 
apprehension  of  attack.  May  19, — It  is  still  believed  that  it  is  the  intention 
of  the  government  and  the  generals  to  evacuate  the  city.  The  archives 
have  been  sent  to  Columbia,  S.  C,  and  to  Lynchburg.  The  tracks  over 
the  bridges  have  been  covered  with  plank,  to  facilitate  the  passage  of 
artillery.  Mr.  Randolph  told  his  page,  and  cousin,  'You  must  go  with 
my  wife  into  the  country,  for  to-morrow  the  enemy  will  be  here.' 

Trunks  were  packed  in  readiness — for  what?  The  secretary  of  the 
treasury  had  a  special  locomotive  and  cars,  constantly  with  steam  up, 
in  readiness  to  fly  with  the  treasure." 

During  the  evening  of  May  3rd  as  we  lay  in  camp  at 
Ship  Point  we  heard  heavy  and  continuous  firing  at  York- 
town.  This  continued  until  about  half  past  ten.  After 
that  time  there  was  an  ominous  silence.  The  morning  of 
the  4th  the  report  reached  us  that  Yorktown  had  been 
evacuated. 

At  two  in  the  morning  word  was  brought  to  McClellan 
that  the  Confederates  had  abandoned  their  works.  There 
was  a  sudden  and  general  waking  up  at  headquarters. 
"There  was  mounting  in  hot  haste."  Aides,  orderlies  and 
special  messengers  were  started  off  here  and  there  on  urgent 
errands.  The  preparations  indicated  a  feeling  that  there 
was  a  necessity  for  doing  something,  but  without  a  very 
definite  idea  as  to  what  was  the  best  thing  to  do.  In  fact 
the  withdrawal  of  the  Confederates  was  a  surprise  and 
something  of  a  disappointment. 


Not  far  from  our  camp  at  Ship  Point  dwelt  a  woman 
whom  the  soldiers  named  Mrs.  Heavysides.  She  weighed 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  She  had  three 
daughters  and  a  few  old  colored  people  who  were  supposed 


THE  PENINSULA.  103 

to  look  after  matters  on  the  farm.  Pigs  and  chickens  had 
been  taken,  and  in  various  ways  the  old  lady  had  been 
considerably  annoyed.  She  would  become  talkative  and 
irrepressible. 

"Want  tew  get  Yorktown,  deou  yeou?  Well,  York- 
town  ain't  much  o'  nothin'  arter  yeou  deou  get  it.  Ain't 
a  dozen  good  houses  there.  General  Magruder's  thar,  an' 
he  kin  drink  more  whisky  nor  enny  general  yeou  'uns  have 
got,  but  he  won't  be  thar  when  yeou  git  thar." 

So  now  that  we  had  reached  Yorktown  its  possession 
did  not  afford  the  highest  satisfaction.  The  old  lady  was 
right.  It  was  an  unsatisfying  victory.  The  enemy  was  not 
not  beaten.  He  had  held  our  army  in  check  as  long  as  it 
suited  his  purpose,  and  then  he  had  deliberately  withdrawn. 
'  Nevertheless  McClellan  sent  to  Washington  a  stirring 
announcement  of  the  stronghold  and  spoils  of  war  that  he 
had  captured,  and  added,  "No  time  shall  be  lost;  I  shall  push 
the  enemy  to  the  wall." 

The  Confederates  who  retired  from  Yorktown  were 
about  50,000.  McClellan's  morning  report  of  April  3Oth 
showed  a  total  of  130,378  on  the  Peninsula  and  on  trans 
ports  near  by:  present  for  duty,  112,392. 

The  Confederates  had  constructed  a  third  line  of  de 
fences  across  the  Peninsula  at  Williamsburg,  twelve  miles 
from  Yorktown.  Cavalry  and  artillery  were  sent  in  pursuit 
of  the  retiring  enemy.  About  noon  they  overtook  the  rear 
near  this  line  of  defences.  Late  in  the  afternoon  the  Fed 
eral  infantry  arrived.  There  was  some  fighting,  after  which 
the  troops  bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  next  day  was 
fought  the  battle  of  Williamsburg.  There  was  no  concert 
of  action  among  the  Union  forces.  There  \vas  uncer 
tainty  as  to  who  was  chief  in  command  on  the  field.  Each 
general  was  fighting  as  he  thought  best.  McClellan  was  at 
Yorktown,  twelve  miles  away,  attending  to  the  embarka- 


104?  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

tion  of  a  part  of  Franklin's  division.  This  was  work  that 
the  quartermaster  could  have  attended  to. 

At  noon  Governor  Sprague  and  the  Prince  de  Join- 
ville,  noticing  that  there  was  confusion  in  the  movements  of 
the  forces  engaged  in  battle,  rode  in  haste  back  to  York- 
town  and  urged  McClellan  to  go  immediately  to  the  front. 
His  reply  was, — "I  supposed  there  were  enough  there  to 
attend  to  that  little  matter." 

At  two  o'clock  he  was  persuaded  to  mount  his  horse  and 
start  for  the  front.  He  arrived  on  the  field  at  five,  when 
the  fighting  was  nearly  over.  Some  determined  fighting 
had  been  done  by  the  divisions  and  brigades  acting  inde 
pendently.  At  ten  o'clock  the  enemy  was  retiring  from 
this  third  line  of  defences  in  such  haste  that  he  had  left  his 
dead  on  the  field,  and  800  wounded  were  left  behind  as  pris 
oners  of  war.  The  enemy,  instead  of  being  "pushed  to  the 
wall,"  had  been  allowed  to  get  on  the  other  side  of  it,  with 
an  open  field  before  him  all  the  way  to  Richmond. 

In  the  meantime  during  the  4th,  the  First  cavalry  had 
lain  quiet  in  camp  at  Ship  Point.  At  dusk,  orders  were 
received  to  break  camp  and  saddle  up.  The  regiment  was 
soon  up  and  on  the  march.  The  men  were  in  good  spirits. 
John  Morris  Kerr,  who  in  stature  rose  head  and  shoulders 
above  many  of  the  men,  and  whose  voice  was  like  the  voice 
of  three,  started  the  call,  "Ho!  Ho!  The  roaring  river!" 
and  for  miles  that  night 

"The  sounding  aisles  of  the  dim  woods  rang" 

with  that  meaningless  call  repeated  in  chorus  up  and  down 
the  length  of  the  marching  column.  It  kept  the  men  awake. 
Our  destination  was  Yorktown.  There  was  some  mis 
understanding  about  the  marching  orders,  or  else  the  guide 
did  not  know  the  way,  for  we  marched  away  beyond  York- 
town.  We  halted  in  a  piece  of  woods  and  lay  down  to 


THE  PENINSULA.  105 

sleep  the  rest  of  the  night.  A  gentle  rain  began  to  fall  and 
pattered  on  the  dead  leaves  around  us.  It  gradually  be 
came  less  and  less  gentle,  and  by  morning  it  was  a  pouring 
rain.  We  saddled  up,  mounted,  and  marched  back  to 
Yorktown,  where,  fortunately  for  us,  the  enemy  had  left 
some  long  and  well  built  board  structures.  The  horses  had 
a  hard  time  of  it  out  in  the  beating  storm.  But  the  men 
built  some  rousing  fires  in  the  big  stoves  that  had  been  left 
standing  in  the  huts.  Here  they  leisurely  dried  their 
drenched  clothing  and  blankets.  Ample  stores  of  pro 
visions  were  found  and  the  men  feasted  on  macaroni,  bacon 
and  pancakes. 

Like  the  Trojans,  storm-driven  on  the  coast  of  Carth 
age,  we  thought,  "Perhaps  sometime  hereafter  it  will  afford 
us  some  pleasure  to  remember  these  things." 

The  day  and  night  of  the  5th  of  May  we  stayed  in  these 
comfortable  quarters.  The  morning  of  the  6th  the  storm 
was  over,  and  we  enjoyed  a  pleasant  day  looking  around 
the  old  town.  The  Confederates  had  constructed  very 
formidable  works.  In  the  largest  one  of  these  on  the  high 
river  bluff  about  seventy  heavy  guns  were  left,  mounted, 
but  spiked.  One  of  the  largest  had  been  broken  either  by  an 
explosion  or  by  a  heavy  shot  from  a  Union  gunboat.  Tor 
pedoes  had  been  planted  in  the  roadways.  A  horse  and 
his  rider  had  been  killed  by  the  explosion  of  one  of  these. 
This  planting  of  torpedoes  was  an  objectionable  way  of 
carrying  on  war.  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  had  condemned 
it,  but  it  had  been  justified  by  General  Magruder. 

Some  of  the  lines  of  earthworks  that  had  been  thrown 
up  by  the  besieged  and  besieging  armies  in  1/81  could  still 
be  traced.  Others  had  been  covered  up  by  the  more  ex 
tensive  recent  works. 

The  spot  on  which  General  O'Hara  is  said  to  have 
stood  when  he  surrendered  to  General  Lincoln  the  sword 


106  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  Cornwallis,  was  marked  by  a  block  of  granite.  The 
place  which  was  said  to  have  been  occupied  by  Washington 
and  the  commander  of  the  allied  French  and  their  staffs  at 
the  time  of  the  surrender  was  marked  by  a  monument  and 
enclosed  by  an  iron  fence.  We  looked  over  the  Nelson 
house  venerable  with  associations,  and  were  interested  in 
reading  the  inscriptions  on  the  tombstones  in  the  ancient 
cemetery  that  marked  the  last  resting  places  of  men  and 
women  eminent  in  Colonial  times. 

More  than  a  month  had  passed  since  the  army  had 
landed  on  the  lower  end  of  the  Peninsula.  And  now  it  had 
marched  twenty-five  miles  and  occupied  these  abandoned 
works.  Eighty-one  years  before,  Washington  had  left 
Philadelphia,  on  the  5th  of  September  and,  without  the  use 
of  steam,  had  brought  his  army  before  Yorktown  and  by 
the  1 7th  of  October — a  month  and  twelve  days — had  com 
pelled  the  surrender  of  the  British  army. 

The  night  of  the  7th  we  embarked  once  more  on  trans 
ports.  The  means  for  embarking  were  not  adequate  or 
convenient.  It  was  a  tedious  night's  \vork,  this  loading  of 
horses  and  lugging  equipments  on  board  the  schooners. 
The  historian  tells  us  that  "the  army  swore  terribly  in 
Flanders."  There  was  some  of  this  same  sort  of  thing  in 
this  all  night's  loading.  We  wondered  what  was  the  emer 
gency  that  called  for  it.  The  next  day  we  lay  idle  in  the 
stream  until  afternoon  when  the  fleet  was  taken  in  tow  and 
moved  twenty-five  miles  up  the  river  to  West  Point.  We 
could  have  made  the  march  by  land  with  a  saving  of  time 
and  wear  and  tear,  and  it  would  have  been  easier  both  for 
men  and  horses. 

Nevertheless  we  enjoyed  the  ride  up  this  historic  water 
way.  On  both  sides  could  be  seen  fine  farms  with  old 
fashioned  mansions  surrounded  by  well  laid  out  grounds, 
and  drives,  and  ancient  groves. 


THE  PENINSULA.  107 

West  Point  is  the  land  lying  between  the  Pamunkey 
and  Mattapony  rivers  where  the  two  unite  to  form  the 
York.  This  was  the  home  of  Opechancanough,  the  famous 
Indian  chieftan,  brother  of  Powhatan.  It  was  now  the 
terminus  of  the  Richmond  and  York  river  railroad. 

The  Confederates  falling  back  from  Williamsburg  had 
left  a  considerable  force  on  a  high  ridge  of  land  extending 
back  from  Brick  House  point,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Pamunkey,  and  opposite  West  Point.  The  transports 
carrying  part  of  Franklin's  division  arrived  in  front  of  this 
position  on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th.  These  transports 
proved  a  good  target  for  the  enemy's  batteries. 

Preparations  were  at  once  made  for  landing  a  suffi 
cient  force  to  drive  away  the  enemy.  The  Fifteenth  N. 
Y.  engineers  made  ready  some  stagings  and  started  their 
pontoons  for  the  shore.  The  batteries  on  the  ridge  con 
cealed  in  the  woods  began  to  play  upon  the  pontoons  and 
the  fleet  of  transports.  The  engineers  succeeded  in  land 
ing  in  the  midst  of  loud  cheering.  The  Union  gunboats 
were  soon  in  a  position  to  shell  the  batteries  in  the  woods, 
and  before  night  Newton's  brigade  and  most  of  Slocum's, 
with  three  batteries  and  Companies  A  and  C  of  the  First 
cavalry  were  on  land. 

During  the  rebel  cannonading  of  the  fleet  there  was 
excitement  among  the  civilian  seamen  who  managed  the 
transports  and  who  had  not  enlisted  for  fighting.  One 
captain  had  climbed  the  rigging  of  the  schooner,  thinking, 
the  enemy  would  aim  at  the  hull.  But  a  shot  passed  so  near 
him  that  he  came  down  from  his  perch,  almost  as  if  he  were 
dropping  to  the  deck,  and  going  over  the  side  he  got  into 
a  small  boat  and  pulled  for  dear  life  for  the  further  shore. 
Several  of  the  transports  were  struck,  but  beyond  causing 
excitement  and  some  amusement  no  great  damage  was 
done. 


108  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

During  the  night  some  prisoners  were  brought  in. 
From  one  of  these  it  was  learned  that  the  Confederate  force 
was  considerable,  and  that  it  would  begin  an  attack  in  the 
morning.  The  morning  of  the  7th  the  firing  began.  The 
great  shells  from  the  gunboats  sent  after  the  fleeing  enemy 
quickened  their  pace. 

Two  staff  officers,  while  the  fighting  was  going  on, 
rode  out  too  far  from  the  right  of  the  line,  and  soon  found 
themselves  prisoners.  In  the  midst  of  some  confusion 
they  saw  a  chance  to  make  a  dash  for  liberty  and  made  it. 
One  who  was  yet  mounted  succeeded  in  getting  back.  The 
other  who  had  lost  his  horse,  did  not  fare  so  well.  Seeing 
too  many  around  him,  he  dropped  upon  his  face  and  lay 
there  as  if  he  were  dead.  Some  Confederate  officers  see 
ing  him  began  a  search  for  valuables.  In  rummaging  his 
pockets  in  no  very  gentle  manner  they  happened  to  touch 
a  ticklish  spot,  and  in  spite  of  his  efforts  to  appear  dead, 
he  had  to  laugh  outright.  His  captors  saw  nothing  funny 
in  his  trick  to  deceive  them  by  "playing  possum."  But  he 
claimed  treatment  due  a  prisoner  of  war.  During  the 
night  he  eluded  them  and  found  his  way  back  to  head 
quarters. 

The  Union  loss  in  this  engagement  on  the  south  bank 
of  the  Pamunkey  opposite  West  Point,  was  about  fifty  killed 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  wounded.  The  Confederate  loss 
was  probably  not  so  large,  but  they  retired  in  some  haste 
towards  Richmond. 

About  five  miles  from  the  scene  of  this  fight  was  Elt- 
ham.  This  was  a  fine  estate  of  about  2,000  acres,  a  typical 
home  of  the  old  Virginia  planter.  On  the  river  front  of 
this  estate  was  a  convenient  landing.  In  early  times  it  was 
the  custom  of  planters  having  their  estates  on  some  of  the 
many  navigable  rivers  of  Virginia,  to  ship  their  products 
direct  to  England.  These  products  were  mostly  tobacco 


THE  PENINSULA.  109 

and  wheat.  At  first  tobacco  was  the  chief  product.  It  was 
not  only  their  chief  product,  but  was  a  medium  of  exchange. 
Salaried  officers  were  often  paid  in  this  product.  Salaries 
of  clergymen  were  paid  entirely  in  tobacco. 

It  afterwards  became-  known  that  these  rich  lands 
would  raise  the  choicest  wheat.  The  vessels  taking  these 
products  to  England  would  bring  back  a  year's  supply  of 
merchandise  of  all  sorts  needed  on  the  plantation. 

A  sufficient  quantity  of  corn  would  be  raised  for  the 
feeding  of  hogs.  Corn  and  bacon,  with  fish  from  the 
rivers  formed  the  largest  part  of  the  food  of  the  families 
of  the  planters  as  well  as  the  little  army  of  colored  people 
who  tilled  the  soil. 

There  were  such  plantations  that  were  the  scene  of 
plenty  and  contentment.  They  were  well  managed.  The 
colored  people  were  kindly  treated  and  worked  willingly. 
Many  of  these  were  trained  as  skilled  laborers  in  special 
lines.  Some  were  blacksmiths,  others  were  carpenters, 
others  were  apt  and  intelligent  in  the  care  of  animals.  These 
were  generally  trusted  and  faithful. 

They  were  allowed  their  holidays,  their  festivals  and 
seasons  of  enjoyment.  But  in  time  the  soil  became  im 
poverished  through  the  raising  of  tobacco.  The  estates  did 
not  yield  their  old  time,  generous  incomes.  It  was  found  to 
be  profitable  to  raise  slaves  to  sell  for  service  on  the  cotton 
plantations  of  the  Gulf  states.  Other  industries  became 
neglected.  Greed  of  gain,  idleness,  immorality,  discontent 
took  the  place  of  the  former  thrift  and  contentment.  Cases 
of  cruel  treatment  of  the  colored  people  were  not  infrequent. 
Slaves  began  to  run  away.  The  papers  were  filled  with 
advertisements  offering  rewards  for  the  arrest  and  return 
of  runaways.  These  runaways,  if  found,  were  mercilessly 
sold  for  the  markets  of  the  extreme  south. 

The  mansion  of  the  Eltham  estate,  was  a  large,  two 


110  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

storied  building  of  red  brick,  with  a  wide  central  hall,  large 
rooms,  well  furnished  with  old  fashioned,  substantial  fur 
niture,  high  posted  bedsteads,  massive  carved  bureaus  and 
tables.  The  building  was  appropriated  as  headquarters  by 
Generals  Franklin,  Slocum  and  Newton.  These  officers 
intended  that  no  damage  should  be  done  the  property.  But 
the  pigs,  chickens,  turkeys  and  geese  supplied  the  officers' 
mess  tables.  There  were  wide  fields  of  ripening  grain  and 
clover  in  full  blossom.  The  horses  and  mules  devoured 
these  crops.  The  owner  of  the  estate  had  departed. 

"He  seed  de  smoke  way  down  de  riber, 

Where  de  Linkum  gunboats  lay: 
He  took  his  hat  and  left  berry  sudden 

And  I  'spect  he's  runned  away. 
Ole  massa's  run,  ha,  ha ! 

De  darkeys  stay,  ho,  ho !" 

The  colored  people,  some  of  them  at  least,  were  re 
maining,  not  knowing  what  else  to  do. 

The  overseer  had  lost  control  of  them.  They  refused 
to  obey  his  orders.  He  talked  with  some  of  the  officers 
about  the  condition  of  things  and  lamented  that  things  on 
"the  place"  were  going  to  ruin.  When  he  hinted  of  using 
the  whip  to  bring  the  slaves  to  obedience  to  his  orders,  he 
was  informed  that  such  things  would  no  longer  be  allowed. 
The  black  people  were  doing  about  as  they  pleased,  and  the 
poor,  lean,  dried  up  overseer  could  not  help  himself. 

There  were  some  interesting  characters  among  them. 
One  man  who  seemed  nearly  a  hundred  years  old  could 
remember  when  his  former  master  used  to  keep  open  house 
in  the  old  mansion ;  when  all  the  many  rooms  were  occupied 
by  guests,  the  "great  people,"   statesmen,   stately  women, 
and  gay  and  fashionable  young  folks.     They  were  enter 
tained  with  almost  royal  hospitality,  but  now 
"Old  times  were  changed, 
Old  manners  gone." 


THE  PENINSULA.  Ill 

A  new  word  was  coined  that  struck  the  popular  fancy. 
In  the  west,  since  Grant's  first  heavy  blows,  the  Confeder 
ates  had  been  compelled  to  fall  back  all  along  the  line.  In 
the  east  they  had  fallen  back  from  Manassas — and  now 
were  falling  back  as  McClellan  advanced  up  the  Peninsula. 

"The  shades  of  night  were  falling  fast, 

When  through  a  southern  village  passed 
A  youth  who  bore,  not  over  nice, 
A  banner  with  this  strange  device — 

Skedaddle ! 
His  brow  was  sad ;  each  toe  beneath 

Peeped  like  an  acorn  from  its  sheath : 
And  with  frightened  voice  he  sung 

His  burden  strange  to  Yankee  tongue — 

Skedaddle ! 
He  saw  no  househould  fire  where  he 

Might  warm  his  tod  or  hominy; 
Afar,  reflected  campfires  shone, 

And  from  his  lips  escaped  a  groan — 

Skedaddle ! 

"Oh  stay,"  the  southern  maiden  said, 
"An'  on  dis  buzzom  res'  yer  head," 
A  tear  stood  in  his  glaring  eye, 

But  still  he  answered  with  a  sigh, — 

Skedaddle ! 
"Beware  the  ford,"  the  old  man  said, 

"The  road  is  awful  there  ahead, 
There's  quicksand,  mudholes,  everywhere," 
"There's  worse  behind,"  he  swore  a  swear — 

Skedaddle ! 
"Look  out  for  Grant  and  Buell,  and  Banks, 

Beware  McClellan's  pursuing  ranks," 
This  was  the  planter's  last  good  night; 
The  chap  replied,  far  out  of  sight — 

Skedaddle ! 
Late  next  day  as  several  boys 

From  Maine,  New  York  and  Illinois 
Were  moving  southward,  in  the  air 
They  heard  in  accents  of  despair — 
Skedaddle ! 


112  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

A  chap  was  found,  and  at  his  side 

A  bottle,  showing  how  he  died; 
Still  grasping  in  the  gathering  gloom, 

That  flag  that  seemed  the  sign  of  doom — 
Skedaddle ! 

There  in  the  twilight  thick  and  gray, 

Considerably  played  out  he  lay, 
And  through  the  vapor  gray  and  thick 

A  voice  fell  like  a  rocket  stick, — 
Skedaddle ! 

We  were  now  in  a  very  pleasant  country,  fine  farming 
land  with  fields  of  growing  grain  and  flowering  clover,  with 
blocks  of  woodland.  The  weather  was  delightful  and  out 
door  life  enjoyable. 

The  different  headquarters  presented  animated  scenes. 
Tents  were  pitched  on  the  lawn  in  front  of  the  Eltham 
mansion,  and  the  officers,  when  not  busy,  were  sitting  here 
and  there  among  the  trees.  It  was  May  loth,  that  the 
regiment  disembarked  at  Eltham. 

While  some  of  the  forces  had  been  moving  up  along 
the  river,  others  had  been  moving  up  on  inland  lines  a  few 
miles  away  from  the  river.  The  various  headquarters 
would  be  moved  forward  a  few  miles,  and  then 
rest  a  few  days.  Communication  \vould  be  opened 
from  one  to  the  other  and  visits  of  courtesy  ex 
changed.  And  all  the  while  the  question  was  being  asked, 
"Why  don't  we  push  on  and  get  into  Richmond  before  the 
enemy  has  time  to  fortify  it?"  But  McClellan  was  received 
with  hearty  cheers  whenever  he  appeared,  and  there  was  a 
hope  that  he  had  his  plans  well  laid  and  would  bring  matters 
out  all  right. 

Two  provisional  corps  had  been  organized,  named  the 
Fifth  and  Sixth.  Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter  had  been  placed 
in  command  of  the  former  and  Gen.  Franklin  of  the  latter. 
These  were  officers  in  whom  Gen.  McClellan  seemed  to  have 


THE  PENINSULA.  113 

especial  confidence.  Franklin's  old  division  was  commanded 
by  Gen.  Slocum. 

May  nth,  the  day  after  the  landing  at  Eltham,  was 
Sunday.  It  was  a  warm,  pleasant  day,  and  the  camps  about 
the  landing  were  quiet.  There  were  inspections  and  dress 
parades.  In  some  of  the  regiments  the  chaplains  conducted 
religious  services. 

The  dress  parade  of  the  Fifth  Wisconsin,  Col.  Amasa 
Cobb,  attracted  special  attention.  There  was  something 
peculiar  in  the  appearance  and  manner  of  the  colonel,  quiet, 
undemonstrative,  reserved,  yet  having  the  most  perfect  con 
trol  over  as  fine  a  body  of  men  as  could  be  found  in  the.  army. 

The  afternoon  of  the  I2th  we  marched  about  four  miles 
and  halted,  with  orders  to  be  ready  to  resume  the  march  at 
four  o'clock  the  next  morning. 

At  the  hour  named  the  regimental  line  was  formed.  The 
night  had  been  moonlight  and  beautiful,  and  the  march  in 
the  early  morning  of  the  I3th  was  enjoyable.  The  regiment 
seemed  to  be  the  rear  of  the  corps.  By  ten  o'clock  we  had 
marched  twelve  miles  or  more.  As  we  passed  over  a  high, 
sandy  ridge  we  looked  down  on  a  wide  plain.  To  the  right 
was  the  winding  river  filled  with  gunboats,  tugs  and  trans 
ports.  So  many  masts  and  smoke  stacks  had  never  before 
been  seen  on  that  stream.  Beyond  the  river  and  a  width  of 
farming  land  was  a  background  of  wooded  heights.  To 
the  left,  bordering  the  plain  and  reaching  far  beyond,  were 
other  gradual  slopes  and  hillsides,  cultivated  fields  and  wood 
lands. 

The  various  army  corps  marching  on  different  lines  had 
converged  on  this  wide  plain  between  the  river  and  the 
circling  hills.  Seen  from  the  high  ridge  we  were  crossing, 
it  was  an  inspiring  sight.  Nearly,  if  not  quite,  100,000 
men, — corps,  divisions,  brigades, — artillery,  cavalry,  in 
fantry,  wagon  trains, — formed  in  compact  masses,  were 


114  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

making  their  encampments.  This  scene,  sketched  by  an 
artist  on  the  spot,  has  been  the  subject  of  one  of  our  great 
historical  paintings. 

It  was  Cumberland,  one  of  the  great  estates  of  Virginia. 

In  some  of  the  fields  colored  women  had  been  driving 
a  single  horse  or  mule,  cultivating  corn.  But  regular  labor 
had  now  ceased.  At  the  comfortable  cabins  officers  and  men 
would  order  meals  prepared.  The  mistress  was  a  secession 
ist,  and  had  forbidden  any  favors  to  any  one  in  the  Union 
army.  To  enforce  discipline  she  had  resorted  to  the  free 
use  of  the  lash  over  the  shoulders  of  one  of  her  women.  The 
swollen  marks  of  the  lashing  were  shown  to  some  of  the 
officers  who  warned  the  mistress  that  such  things  could  not 
be  allowed.  It  was  not  easy  for  her  to  understand  that  the 
army  of  the  United  States  had  any  right  or  authority  on  her 
possessions,  and  she  insisted  that  the  army  should  move  away 
from  her  estate  at  once,  or  they  would  be  subjected  to  the 
payment  of  heavy  damages.  Provisions  taken  were  gener 
ally  paid  for,  but  the  pay  went  into  the  hands  of  the  colored 
people. 

Gen,  Stoneman  with  his  cavalry  had  kept  in  the  ad 
vance  in  the  slow  movement  of  the  main  army,  and  occasion 
ally  had  found  some  of  the  enemy  and  captured  a  few  pris 
oners.  But,  in  obedience  to  orders,  he  had  not  pushed  on 
very  far  in  advance. 

From  one  who  had  lately  been  in  Richmond  it  was 
learned  that  there  was  universal  dread  of  the  coming  of  the 
Union  army,  and  that  the  authorities  were  preparing  to  leave 
the  city. 

May  1 4th  the  army  lay  still  at  Cumberland.  Early  the 
1 5th  we  were  on  the  way.  It  was  a  rainy  day.  A  march 
of  six  miles  brought  us  to  the  White  House,  and  soon  the 
wide  level  land  between  the  river  and  the  hills  was  filled 
with  the  camp  arranged  in  compact  order. 


THE  PENINSULA.  115 

The  Richmond  and  York  River  railroad  crossed  the 
Pamunkey  at  this  place.  The  Confederates  had  partially 
destroyed  the  bridge.  The  river  was  navigable  to  this  point. 
There  was  a  good  landing  and  it  was  made  the  base  of 
supplies. 

The  estate  was  valuable  and  was  the  property  of  the 
wife  of  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,  a  descendant  of  the  Custis 
family.  It  was  here  that  Washington  first  met  Mrs.  Custis, 
then  a  charming  and  wealthy  young  widow. 

His  marriage  with  Mrs.  Custis  took  place  Jan.  6th, 
I759>  some  authorities  say  at  the  White  House,  the  residence 
of  Mrs.  Custis,  others  say  at  the  church  near  New  Kent 
Court  House. 

The  Confederates  had  left  the  immediate  vicinity.  In 
the  main  hall  of  the  White  House  was  a  paper  attached  to 
the  wall,  reading  as  follows : 

"Northern  soldiers,  who  prefer  to  revere  Washington,  forbear  to 
desecrate  the  home  of  his  first  married  life — the  property  of  his  wife — 
now  owned  by  her  descendant, 

A  GRANDDAUGHTER  OF  MRS.  WASHINGTON." 

A  house  had  been  recently  occupied  by  a  son  of  Robert 
E.  Lee.  The  paper  would  lead  one  to  suppose  that  this  was 
the  house  that  was  standing  here  in  Washington's  time.  It 
was  learned,  however,  that  the  original  house  had  been 
destroyed  by  fire  thirty  years  before.  This  later  house  was 
burned  when  the  place  was  abandoned  as  a  base  of  supplies. 
It  was  an  ideal  location  for  a  home. 

The  1 6th,  after  the  previous  rainy  day,  the  army  lay 
quiet,  spread  out  to  dry  over  the  broad  acres  of  the  Custis 
estate.  There  were  frequent  details  for  escorts. 

Before  sunrise  on  the  I9th  we  were  on  the  march.  We 
left  the  great,  wide,  level  camping  ground  at  the  White 
House,  and  followed  the  line  of  the  railroad,  keeping  on  the 
right  of  the  track.  Large  bodies  of  infantry  and  artillery 


116  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

were  moving  in  the  same  direction.  Halted  near  Tunstall's 
station  in  a  clover  field.  From  the  woods  came  during  the 
night  the  ceaseless  notes  of  the  whip-poor-will.  The  morn 
ing  of  the  20th,  Companies  B  and  F  were  ordered  out  to 
accompany  Capt.  Arnold  of  Franklin's  staff.  The  way  was  up 
the  south  bank  of  the  Pamunkey.  It  was  a  long  and  pleasant 
ride  through  a  pleasant  country.  These  were  the  first  Union 
soldiers  whom  the  people  here  had  seen.  Crowds  of  colored 
people  came  to  the  roadside  to  see.  They  were  of  all  classes 
and  conditions — the  patriarch  of  more  than  four  score,  with 
hair  like  sheep's  wool,  almost  white;  the  dozen  or  two  of 
pickaninnies  with  faces  of  shining  blackness,  and  eyes  roll 
ing  in  wonder ;  women  and  men,  some  with  regular  features 
and  intelligent  faces,  and  others  with  features  not  easy  to 
describe. 

Many  of  the  able-bodied  slaves  had  been  sent  to  the 
lower  Peninsula  to  work  upon  fortifications.  Some  of  these 
had  never  returned  to  the  plantations. 

The  white  people  had  no  friendly  greetings.  Ladies 
would  stand  in  the  doorways  with  features  expressing  bitter 
hostility. 

The  colored  women  and  children  were  demonstrative  in 
their  welcome,  in  spite  of  the  forbidding  aspects  and  words 
of  master  and  mistress.  They  brought  to  the  roadside,  as 
free  gifts  to  the  cavalrymen,  an  abundance  of  corn  bread  and 
hoe  cake,  with  jars  of  butter  milk.  These  planters,  like  many 
others,  were  raising  slaves  for  the  southern  market.  Some 
•of  them  would  sell  from  ten  to  twenty  a  year,  receiving  for 
them  from  five  to  fifteen  hundred  dollars  a  piece,  according 
to  age  and  condition. 

The  return  was  on  a  road  farther  from  the  river  and 
nearer  to  Richmond.  Columns  of  infantry  were  moving 
toward  the  Confederate  capital.  In  answer  to  many  in 
quiries,  the  answer  was  returned  that  it  was  a  fruitful  land — 


THE  PENINSULA.  117 

a  land  of  hoe  cake  and  buttermilk,  of  fat  pickaninnies,  and 
white  enemies  who  would  welcome  them  to  hospitable  graves. 

Marched  at  one  o'clock  the  next  morning  in  a  drizzling 
rain.  The  clay  was  warm.  The  country  was  high  land 
midway  between  the  rivers,  and  was  sandy  and  poor. 

Here  had  been  a  resort  for  an  occasional  day's  outing 
by  the  people  from  the  city.  There  was  an  old  tavern  where 
entertainment  had  been  provided.  It  was  a  well  shaded 
place  and  had  received  the  name  of  Cool  Arbor.  This  name 
had  been  modified  in  spelling  and  pronunciation.  It  has  been 
called  Coal  Harbor,  and  Cold  Harbor,  but  is  difficult  to  see 
any  significance  in  these  names.  This  place  was  now  the 
headquarters  of  the  army. 


CHAPTER  XL 
BEFORE  RICHMOND. 

nARLY  in  the  morning  of  May  22nd  as  the  regiment 
stood  in  line,  a  staff  officer  rode  up  and  called  for 
men  well  mounted,  to  act  as  advance  guard  for  a  regiment 
of  infantry.  Twenty-five  men  from  K  were  selected,  with 
Sergeant  George  W.  Cummins  in  command.  Orders  were 
to  proceed  ahead  of  the  infantry  toward  Mechanicsville.  It 
was  an  old  and  unused  road  with  thick  woods  on  either 
side.  The  men  rode  by  twos  at  an  easy  gallop,  jumping 
their  horses  over  logs  that  lay  across  the  way.  The  morn 
ing  was  bright  and  warm.  Besides  the  men  themselves 
there  was  no  sign  of  life  save  the  singing  of  the  many  birds 
among  the  trees.  With  feelings  of  exhilaration  and  security 
the  men  rode  on  until  it  was  suggested  that  they  were  getting 
too  far  ahead  of  the  infantry.  Cummins  said, — "We  will 
ride  forward  to  the  hill  and  there  wait."  They  passed  down 
a  slight  decline,  crossed  the  bridge  over  a  small  stream  and 
turned  to  the  right,  following  the  road  along  the  foot  of  the 
thickly  wooded  hill.  From  among  the  bushes  by  the  road 
side  suddenly  arose  a  large  number  of  armed  men.  They 
poured  their  fire  into  the  cavalry,  broadside,  and  so  close 
that  some  of  them  could  almost  touch  the  horses  with  their 
guns.  Cummins  fell  to  the  ground,  shot  through  the  heart. 
Corporal  William  Anderson  fell,  and  was  thought  to  be  dead, 
but  he  was  only  wounded.  The  men  who  were  left  mounted, 
turned  to  get  away,  when  the  enemy  in  great  numbers  came 

118 


BEFORE  RICHMOND.  119 

out  into  the  road  in  the  rear,  and  on  both  sides.  The  cav 
alry  did  not  stand  on  the  order  of  their  going.  They  went 
at  once  and  went  rapidly,  riding  over  or  eluding  the  rebels 
who  tried  to  catch  the  horses  by  the  bits  as  they  dashed 
past.  The  bullets  followed  them  thick  and  fast.  Upon 
reaching  the  elevation  on  this  side  of  the  stream,  Sergeant 
E.  C.  Watkins  rallied  the  men  and  took  command.  The 
rebels  contented  themselves  with  firing  at  long  range  when 
ever  a  man  showed  himself.  Many  of  the  horses  had  been 
hit,  but  not  disabled.  Watkins'  horse  had  been  wounded  in 
three  places. 

Watkins  held  his  men  here  until  the  infantry  came  up, 
when  a  battalion  was  quickly  deployed  on  each  side  of  the 
road  and  advanced  rapidly  down  the  slope.  The  enemy 
waited  to  fire  but  a  few  shots,  then  broke  and  ran.  Our 
men  followed.  In  the  place  where  they  had  been  ambushed 
they  found  the  body  of  Cummins  where  he  had  fallen, 
mutilated  with  bayonet  thrusts  and  his  ears  cut  off!  A 
prisoner  taken  later  in  the  day  stated  that  this  was  the  act 
of  a  South  Carolina  soldier  who  "proposed  to  take  the 
Yankee's  ears  to  his  best  girl." 

Watkins  really  commanded  all  the  troops  on  the  road 
after  the  cavalry  fight.  He  was  wearing  a  blouse  with  no 
chevrons  and  was  easily  mistaken  for  an  officer.  The  in 
fantry  colonel  asked  him  to  take  command  of  his  men,  as 
he  himself  had  no  knowledge  of  military  matters.  Later 
reinforcements  also  reported  to  Watkins.  These  forces  fol 
lowed  up  the  Confederates  and  drove  them  through  and  be 
yond  Mechanicsville.  That  night  Franklin's  corps  occupied 
the  place.  The  next  morning  a  special  order  from  General 
Franklin  was  read  before  the  regiment,  in  which  he  highly 
complimented  these  cavalrymen  for  their  meritorious  con 
duct,  and  recommended  the  promotion  of  Sergeant  Watkins 
to  first  lieutenant. 


120  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Anderson  who  had  been  wounded  spent  many  months  in 
prison.  Companies  A  and  C  went  to  Bottom's  bridge  across 
the  Chickahominy.  It  had  been  destroyed.  Other  details 
had  been  made  for  various  services.  In  one  of  these  a  Ger 
man  of  L  had  fallen  among  a  few  of  the  enemy,  but  before 
his  arms  had  been  taken  from  him  he  knocked  over  one  of 
his  captors  with  his  carbine  and  broke  away.  Several  shots 
were  fired  after  him,  and  his  horse  was  wounded,  but  he 
escaped. 

The  23rd,  at  sunset,  the  chaplain  conducted  an  impress 
ive  service  over  the  remains  of  Sergeant  Cummins.  He 
was  a  brave,  true,  intelligent  man,  and  a  faithful  soldier.  In 
the  pine  woods  near  the  camp,  which  was  now  named  Camp 
Cummins,  he  was  buried  with  military  honors,  his  comrades 
firing  three  farewell  volleys  over  his  grave.  The  realities  of 
war  were  brought  home  to  them  as  they  laid  him  to  rest  and 
left  him  among  the  lonely  pines  at  Cold  Harbor. 

At  dress  parade  on  the  afternoon  of  the  24th  an  address 
by  McClellan  was  read  in  all  the  camps.  It  was  inspiring 
in  its  tone.  It  spoke  of  past  successes,  saying  that  "the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  had  never  yet  been  checked,"  and 
promising  an  immediate  forward  movement;  wagons  and 
baggage  were  to  be  left  behind,  soldiers  were  encouraged  to 
be  prompt,  cool,  steady,  to  "aim  low  and  rely  upon  the 
bayonet/' 

Arms  were  carefully  examined ;  some  of  the  men  sharp 
ened  their  sabres.  Letters — were  they  to  be  the  last  ? — were 
sent  home.  One  of  the  captains,  a  soldier  of  the  old  school, 
urged  his  men  to  be  careful  of  their  clothing  and  brush  it 
up,  and  polish  their  shoes,  so  that  the  company  might  make 
a  fine  appearance  on  the  expected  triumphal  entry  into 
Richmond. 

The  24th  was  rainy  and  most  of  the  regiment  remained 
in  camp.  The  Fourth  Michigan  went  out  and  engaged  in  a 


BEFORE  RICHMOND.  121 

skirmish  and  returned  bringing  in  about  twenty-five  pris 
oners. 

Companies  F  and  M  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Bennett  were  ordered  to  report  to  General  Porter.  They 
remained  at  his  headquarters  until  sometime  in  August,  act 
ing  as  escort  and  orderlies,  and  taking  part  in  all  the  engage 
ments  of  the  corps. 

One  of  the  first  duties  assigned  to  these  companies  was 
to  accompany  an  officer  to  the  residence  of  Mrs.  R.  E.  Lee 
and  her  daughter  Mary  at  the  White  House,  with  instruc 
tions  to  inform  them  that  they  would  not  be  permitted  to 
remain  longer  within  the  lines.  Word  was  sent  to  General 
Lee,  who  called  Captain  Mason,  saying, — "I  have  some 
property  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  General  McClellan 
has  informed  me  that  he  would  deliver  it  to  me  at  any  time 
I  would  call  for  it."  He  desired  Captain  Mason  to  go  with 
a  courier  and  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  Federal  lines  with  a 
sealed  dispatch  to  General  McClellan.  The  Union  officer  on 
the  picket  line  at  Meadow  bridge  insisted  on  blindfolding 
Captain  Mason  before  taking  him  to  headquarters.  He 
thought  he  was  doing  right  in  taking  this  precaution,  but 
for  this  McClellan  was  so  indignant  that  he  ordered  the 
officer  under  arrest.  But  he  treated  the  Confederate  officer 
to  the  best  he  had,  including  the  choicest  liquors,  and  in  due 
time,  and  with  the  greatest  courtesy,  sent  him  and  the  family 
of  General  Lee,  with  an  escort  back  into  the  Confederate 
lines. 

Captain  Harkins  with  D  and  H  was  ordered  to  report 
to  General  Slocum.  The  25th  the  other  companies  moved 
about  four  miles  up  the  north  bank  of  the  Chickahominy  and 
encamped  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Sidney.  The  valley  here  was 
hardly  a  mile  wide  and  bordered  by  moderate  bluffs.  On 
the  southern  bluff  the  enemy's  pickets  were  plainly  seen. 

The  26th,  with  horses  saddled  ready  to  move  at  a  mo- 


122  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ment's  notice,  we  waited  for  orders,  but  no  orders  came. 
The  enemy  threw  a  few  shells  across  the  valley.  They 
passed,  shrieking  and  howling,  over  the  camp.  The  noise 
they  made  was  not  a  pleasant  one,  but  they  did  no  damage. 

The  27th  there  was  heavy  and  continuous  firing  off  to 
the  northwest.  It  was  Porter  at  Hanover  Court  House. 
At  evening  the  report  came  that  he  had  defeated  the  enemy 
and  taken  a  thousand  prisoners.  Companies  F  and  M  were 
with  him. 

Low's  balloon  made  an  ascent  just  behind  the  camp,  and 
the  enemy  from  across  the  valley  threw  several  shells  at  it. 
At  the  first  shell,  which  came  uncomfortably  near,  the  man 
in  the  balloon  made  considerable  noise — 

"Sent  forth  a  sharp  and  bitter  cry, 
As  of  a  wild  thing  taken  in  a  trap, 
Which  sees  the  trapper  coming  thro'  the  wood." 

Whether  it  was  a  shout  of  defiance  or  a  cry  of  terror, 
begging  help,  we  could  not  quite  make  out.  But  the  balloon 
speedily  came  down  and  was  moved  back  out  of  range,  when 
it  went  up  again  to  take  a  safer  survey  of  the  country.  The 
shells  fell  in  the  camp  and  went  rolling  and  ricocheting  along 
the  ground.  While  they  did  do  no  harm,  they  were  not 
looked  upon  as  desirable  playthings. 

The  Confederates  had  retired  across  the  Chickahominy 
and  destroyed  the  bridge.  They  had  placed  their  batteries 
on  the  bank.  The  camp  of  the  cavalry  which  had  been  made 
near  the  bank  of  Beaver  Dam  creek  was  in  an  exposed  posi 
tion.  The  solid  shot  and  shells  from  these  batteries  had 
fallen  among  the  tents. 

Some  of  the  men  were  in  the  habit  of  going  with  their 
horses  to  the  creek,  on  their  own  notion,  at  such  times  as 
were  convenient  for  them.  They  had  the  appearance  of 
wandering  awray  from  camp  without  permission.  General 
Davidson  was  out  with  some  attendants  and,  provoked  at 


BEFORE  RICHMOND.  123 

seeing  these  men  wandering  outside  regardless  of  discipline, 
drew  his  weapons  and  charged  upon  them  with  a  volley  of 
oaths  more  terrible  than  his  display  of  arms.  The  men  came 
through  the  bushes  surrounding  the  camp  as  if  the  enemy 
in  force  was  upon  them.  They  excited  commotion  for  a  few 
minutes,  but  general  laughter  afterwards. 

The  camp  was  withdrawn  a  mile  or  more  to  a  sandy 
field  by  the  side  of  a  grove  in  the  edge  of  which  was  standing 
a  plain  church.  Heavy  details  were  made  for  the  guard  and 
picket  duty.  Patrols  were  out  almost  constantly  to  watch 
the  Confederates  who  could  always  be  seen  on  the  bank 
across  the  valley.  From  high  positions  could  be  seen  the 
church  spires  of  Richmond. 

Batteries  were  placed  to  face  those  of  the  enemy.  Shots 
were  exchanged  often  enough  to  remind  one  that  a  state  of 
war  existed.  Otherwise  the  situation  wras  comparatively 
quiet.  And  all  were  waiting  to  see  what  would  be  done. 

Near  by  was  the  camp  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  cavalry,  a 
well-officered,  efficient  regiment,  attached  to  Porter's  corps, 
which  was  picketing  a  line  of  eight  or  ten  miles,  but  leaving 
an  unguarded  line  of  several  miles  between  their  right  and 
the  Pamunkey  river.  The  officers  of  the  regiment  reported 
this  to  higher  authorities,  but  the  matter  was  not  attended 
to.  A  little  later  the  Confederates  took  advantage  of  this, 
and  Stuart's  cavalry  made  the  circuit  of  the  Federal  army. 

A  part  of  the  army  had  crossed  the  Chickahominy  and 
advanced  beyond  Savage's  Station.  But  so  far  as  we  could 
see  no  very  important  movements  were  being  made.  It  was 
understood  that  McClellan  was  waiting  for  McDowell,  who 
was  at  Fredericksburg,  to  join  him.  The  weather  was 
warm,  with  occasional  heavy  thunder  showers.  Early  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  3ist  there  was  some  musketry  firing 
across  the  river.  It  soon  became  continuous  and  heavy.  It 
was  evident  that  contending  lines  were  near  each  other  and 


124?  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

hotly  engaged.  There  were  volleys  of  musketry  and  the 
heavier  firing  of  artillery.  Now  and  then  were  plainly  heard 
the  ringing  Union  cheers  and  the  screeching  rebel  yells. 
These  were  easily  distinguished  and  indicated  desperate  fight 
ing  at  close  quarters.  As  the  cheers  or  yells  were  louder 
we  could  imagine  one  or  the  other  of  the  lines  pressing  back 
its  opponent.  Such  fighting  and  so  near  by,  and  becoming 
more  and  more  intense,  was  too  exciting  to  permit  men  to 
remain  quiet.  They  wanted  to  have  a  hand  in  the  fray,  and 
when  after  a  little  while,  orders  were  given  to  saddle  up  and 
be  ready,  it  took  but  a  short  time  for  the  six  companies  not 
detached,  to  be  in  line.  The  colonel  reported  to  General 
Franklin  who  directed  that  the  regiment  remain  in  readiness 
and  await  further  orders. 

In  the  meantime  a  young  Confederate  officer  had  been 
taken  prisoner  and  was  brought  to  headquarters.  It  was 
Lieutenant  Washington,  an  aide  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Joseph 
E.  Johnston.  He  wore  a  fine  uniform  of  gray  trimmed  with 
gold  lace.  He  was  a  gentlemanly  and  soldierly  appearing 
man,  too  full  of  energy  to  be  content  to  be  a  captive  when 
he  expected  to  take  an  active  part  in  a  battle  that  had  been 
planned  to  crush  that  part  of  the  Union  army  that  had 
crossed  the  river. 

Reports  came  that  the  fighting,  though  desperate,  had 
gone  well  with  the  Union  army.  The  Confederate  General 
Huger  had  failed  to  do  what  was  expected  of  him.  General 
Sumner,  crossing  the  swollen  river  on  floating  logs  of  a 
corduroy  bridge,  hastened  to  the  assistance  of  the  Union 
forces.  The  well  laid  plans  of  Johnston  were  thwarted.  He 
himself  was  wounded.  His  forces  were  withdrawn  toward 
Richmond.  There  was  more  fighting  on  the  morning  of 
June  ist,  and  the  Union  army  was  in  possession  of  the  entire 
field  of  Fair  Oaks. 

The  falling  back  of  the  Confederate  forces  caused  in- 


BEFORE  RICHMOND.  125 

tense  anxiety  in  Richmond.  Every  available  building  in  the 
city  was  converted  into  a  hospital  for  their  wounded. 

General  Heintzelman  thought  the  time  favorable  for 
following  the  enemy  and  advancing  directly  upon  Richmond. 
On  the  morning  of  June  2nd  he  sent  General  Hooker  with 
a  strong  force  to  reconnoiter.  Hooker  went  within  four 
miles  of  the  capital,  seeing  only  stragglers  and  a  few  pickets. 
He  sent  back  a  report  of  the  situation,  expressing  an  opinion 
that  it  was  possible  for  a  strong  force  to  capture  the  city. 
General  McClellan  sent  a  peremptory  order, — ''General 
Hooker  will  return  from  his  brilliant  reconnoissance ;  we 
cannot  afford  to  lose  his  division." 

General  McClellan  was  not  near  the  field  during  the 
battles  of  Fair  Oaks  and  Seven  Pines,  nor  did  he  give  any 
direct  orders  except  that  he  sent  word  to  Sumner  to  cross 
the  river  with  his  corps,  and  Sumner  had  anticipated  this 
order  and  had  begun  to  move. 

On  the  3rd  of  June,  McClellan  issued  another  brief  and 
stirring  address  which  was  read  at  evening  parade  in  all  the 
camps.  In  this  he  announced  the  recent  great  victory,  and 
promised  a  speedy  forward  movement.  He  encouraged  his 
soldiers  to  bear  themselves  manfully,  and  predicted  that  the 
coming  conflict  would  be  decisive. 

In  the  meantime  there  came  reports  of  Union  successes 
in  the  west.  Halleck  had  compelled  Beauregard  to  evacuate 
Corinth.  Colonel  Elliott,  with  Iowa  cavalry,  had  made  a 
daring  raid  in  the  rear  of  Corinth,  breaking  the  enemy's 
communications,  destroying  property  and  parolling  2,000 
sick  and  convalescent  soldiers.  The  whole  North  was  exult 
ing  over  these  successes,  and  was  watching  with  the  greatest 
interest  the  army  before  Richmond.  The  boastful  proclama 
tions  of  Beauregard  had  not  saved  him. 

From  the  4th  to  the  I2th  there  were  details  for  foraging. 
Some  deserters  reported  the  Confederates  to  be  tired  and 


126  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

disheartened.  The  I3th,  Confederate  cavalry  was  around 
our  right  and  rear.  Wagons  on  their  way  to  the  landing 
for  supplies  were  turned  back.  Horses  were  on  short  rations 
of  musty  corn.  Ordered  to  be  on  the  alert  during  the  night, 
and  to  march  early  the  next  morning.  Morning  came. 
Marched  a  mile  and  encamped.  The  new  camp  was  near 
McClellan's  headquarters  and  was  a  short  distance  in  the 
rear  of  the  ground  on  which,  a  fortnight  later,  was  fought 
the  battle  of  Games'  Mill. 

It  was  soon  known  what  the  Confederates  had  accomp 
lished.  Stuart,  with  1,500  cavalry  and  some  artillery,  had 
burned  two  schooners  and  fourteen  wagons  loaded  with  sup 
plies,  captured  165  prisoners,  265  horses  and  mules,  had 
leisurely  passed  around  our  entire  army  and  returned  to 
Richmond  by  the  James  river  road,  suffering  no  loss  himself. 

From  the  I5th  to  the  i8th  remained  in  camp.  It  had 
been  announced  that  McClellan  had  been  waiting  for  Mc- 
Call's  division  of  McDowell's  corps  to  join  him,  when  he 
would  move  at  once  against  the  enemy.  And  now  McCall's 
division  of  15,000  men  was  here. 

A  general  forward  movement  along  the  whole  line  ex 
pected,  and  the  men  were  in  good  spirits. 

The  i  Qth  the  regiment  crossed  the  Chickahominy  on 
Woodbury's  bridge,  and  on  an  open,  sloping  field,  made  a 
new  camp.  A  short  half  mile  away,  near  some  fine  springs, 
were  pitched  McClellan's  headquarters  tents. 

Liberty  was  given  to  some  of  the  men  to  ride  out  to 
the  front.  The  field  of  Seven  Pines  and  Fair  Oaks  seemed 
like  a  vast  burial  ground.  Many  bodies  had  evidently  been 
allowed  to  remain  on  the  spot  where  they  had  fallen,  and  a 
scant  covering  of  earth  had  been  thrown  upon  them.  The 
lines  had  been  advanced  beyond  the  field  of  the  battle,  and 
long  lines  of  earthworks  had  been  thrown  up.  In  these  were 
long  ranks  of  men  with  arms  in  readiness,  constantly  on 


BEFORE  RICHMOND.  127 

the  lookout  for  an  advancing  enemy.  Behind  these  lines, 
extending  over  a  wide  distance,  the  fields  and  woods  were 
full  of  camps,  indicating  the  massing  of  the  army  for  an 
attack  upon  Richmond  from  this  position. 

The  25th  the  regiment  went  to  the  front  as  an  escort 
to  McClellan.  Went  a  little  in  advance  of  the  position  of 
the  Union  lines  at  the  time  of  the  battle.  A  lively  skirmish 
was  going  on  along  a  considerable  length  of  the  line.  In 
case  it  should  develop  into  an  attack  in  force,  bodies  of 
troops  were  here  and  there  massed  in  solid  squares,  with  field 
officers  mounted,  in  readiness  to  be  thrown  forward.  The 
regiment  waited  in  line  hardly  out  of  range  of  the  Confed 
erate  skirmishers'  fire,  and  their  shots  would  now  and  then 
reach  us.  It  seemed  as  though  it  would  be  a  relief  to  those 
men  waiting  in  the  solid  squares  if  they  were  ordered  at  once 
into  action. 

In  the  rear  of  an  army  in  battle  is  the  worst  part  of  all 
the  field.  Details  with  stretchers  were  bringing  back  the 
wounded.  As  they  were  laid  upon  the  ground  the  surgeons 
would  look  at  them,  one  after  another,  and  quickly  decide 
what  ones  were  beyond  their  help.  There  was  one  man 
shot  through  the  head,  still  alive  and  moaning  piteously.  It 
seemed  an  hour  before  his  moaning  ceased.  Another  was 
so  battered  about  the  face  as  to  be  almost  unrecognizable. 
He,  too,  was  yet  alive,  but  beyond  the  power  of  noticing 
anything.  The  surgeon  looked  at  him  and  passed  on  to  the 
next.  Another  with  only  a  hand  shattered  had  walked  back 
from  the  skirmish  line.  The  surgeon  began  at  once  to  am 
putate  some  of  the  fingers.  Under  the  effect  of  an  insuffi 
cient  anaesthetic  the  wounded  man  became  delirious  and 
talked  incoherently  and  incessantly.  Under  other  circum 
stances,  what  he  was  saying  would  be  amusing.  The  sur 
geons  in  attending  to  their  work  had  to  keep  back  all  signs 
of  sympathy  and  appear  indifferent  to  human  suffering. 


128  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

In  returning  to  his  headquarters  McClellan  paid  a  flat 
tering  compliment  to  the  regiment,  although  it  had  not  been 
in  action.  Perhaps  it  had  shown  some  degree  of  courage  in 
waiting  and  looking  on. 

The  26th  there  was  sharp  firing  on  the  extreme  right, 
across  the  Chickahominy.  It  was  the  Confederate  attack 
on  the  Union  position  at  Beaver  Dam  creek.  At  evening 
roll  call  it  was  announced  that  the  Confederates  had  been 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  and  that  we  had  won  another  vic 
tory,  and  there  was  hearty  cheering  in  all  the  camps. 


A.   CHALMERS  HINTON. 


R.  G.  PRENDERGAST. 


DR.  GEO.  L.  DOUGLAS. 


JENYNS  C.  BATTERSBY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL. 

^  I  ^HE  fight  at  Beaver  Dam  creek  did  not  cease  until  after 
night  fall.  The  Union  forces  under  Porter  held  their 
position  with  a  loss  of  a  little  more  than  four  hundred.  The 
Confederates  were  repulsed  with  a  loss,  as  Longstreet  after 
ward  said  to  the  historian  Swinton,  of  between  three  and 
four  thousand.  McClellan  was  not  on  the  field,  but  he  sent 
orders  to  fall  back  during  the  night.  Wagons  and  wounded 
men  were  transferred  across  the  river. 

Notwithstanding  the  cheering  over  the  victory,  there 
began  to  grow  up  among  the  men  a  feeling  of  uncertainty. 
Since  McClellan's  promise  of  a  speedy  and  decisive  move 
ment  nearly  a  month  before,  nothing  of  importance  had  been 
done  except  skirmishing  along  the  front,  and  Stuart's  raid 
around  the  Union  army.  And  now  the  enemy  had  taken  the 
initiative.  Contrabands  had  brought  the  report  that  Stone 
wall  Jackson  had  come  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley  and 
joined  Lee. 

The  forenoon  of  the  27th  there  seemed  to  be  something 
ominous  in  the  air.  It  became  known  that  Porter  had  fallen 
back  from  the  field  of  the  previous  day's  fight  to  high,  open 
ground  where  he  had  formed  a  new  line  on  the  arc  of  a 
circle,  in  a  favorable  position,  but  with  no  earthworks  in 
front. 

The  men  had  always  liked  the  appearance  of  Porter; 
erect,  cool,  watchful,  with  an  expression  of  "business"  and 
determination.  But  he  had  only  27,000  men.  Opposed  to 

129 


130  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

him  were  70,000.  Behind  the  advanced  lines  of  works  on 
the  south  side  were  more  than  60,000  Union  men  with  many 
more  in  reserve.  Between  these  and  Richmond  was  Mag- 
ruder  with  25,000.  With  these  he  kept  up  a  constant  skir 
mishing,  always  threatening  an  attack  as  if  with  a  superior 
force. 

On  the  20th  McClellan  had  reported  a  total  of  156,838 
with  115,000  present  for  duty.  Lee  had  a  force  of  75,000 
which,  by  the  arrival  of  Jackson,  was  increased  to  110,000. 

McClellan  had  three  courses  open  to  him  :  i  st,  to  cross 
to  the  north  side  and  risk  all  in  a  battle  on  Porter's  ground : 
2nd,  withdraw  Porter  to  the  south  side  to  hold  the  line  of 
the  river,  and  with  the  rest  of  the  army  push  directly  into 
Richmond  :  3rd,  move  his  entire  army  to  the  James. 

Shortly  after  noon  the  enemy  developed  his  superior 
forces  in  front  of  Porter.  He,  realizing  the  work  he  had 
before  him,  sent  for  reinforcements.  Slocum's  division  was 
sent.  As  it  crossed  Alexander's  bridge  it  was  met  by  hun 
dreds  of  wounded.  Arriving  on  the  field  it  was  divided  into 
detachments,  and  these  were  sent  to  strengthen  different 
parts  of  the  line. 

The  roar  of  battle  became  terrific.  The  enemy  was 
pressing  around  Porter's  right  which  was  obliged  to  give 
way.  Before  overwhelming  forces  the  entire  line  began  to 
yield.  In  response  to  calls  for  further  reinforcements  the 
brigades  of  French  and  Meagher  had  been  sent.  These 
hurrying  forward  with  loud  cheers  checked  the  retreating 
lines,  which  reformed  and  advanced  to  the  front.  The  Con 
federates  hearing  and  seeing  these  fresh  forces,  and  not 
knowing  how  many  there  were  of  them,  ceased  from  their 
attacks  and  rested  on  the  ground  they  had  won. 

In  this  battle  of  Games'  Mill  the  Union  loss  was  almost 
8,000  men  and  22  guns.  The  enemy's  loss  was  about  5,000. 
.In  this  day's  doings  six  companies  of  the  Lincoln  cavalry,  a 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  131 

squadron  each  at  the  headquarters  of  Porter,  Slocum  and 
Franklin,  saw  active  service.  The  two  companies  under 
Boyd  at  Franklin's  headquarters  were  sent  to  Slocum  when 
the  latter  was  sent  across  the  river.  The  duties  of  mounted 
orderlies  on  a  field  of  battle  are  responsible  and  dangerous. 
These  cavalrymen  were  among  the  busiest  of  all  the  men  on 
the  field.  The  remaining  companies  had  acted  as  escorts  to 
generals  examining  the  situation  at  the  front  on  the  south 

side. 

All  night  long,  along  the  road  just  by  the  side  of  the 
cavalry  camp,  were  passing  wagons,  ambulances,  horses, 
wounded  men  and  marching  regiments.  The  steady,  monot 
onous  tramp,  the  dust  filling  the  air  to  suffocation,  the  men 
marching  in  silence,  too  wearied  to  talk,  some  of  them  hardly 
awake,  the  wounded  in  ambulances  or  borne  on  stretchers, 
all  these  marked  the  all-night  retreat  of  a  defeated  army. 

It  was  said  that  a  general  shed  tears  as  he  saw  his  men 
falling  in  such  numbers  and  his  line  driven  back. 

"Talk  not  of  grief  till  thou  hast  seen 
The  tears  of  warlike  men." 

The  morning  of  the  28th  we  were  up  early.  The  night 
had  been  a  sleepless  one.  The  disasters  of  the  previous  day 
were  known.  Officers  of  high  rank  could  be  seen  in  groups 
consulting  in  low  tones,  awaiting  developments.  Enlisted 
men  were  watching  their  officers,  trying  to  gather  from  the 
expression  of  their  faces  some  sign  of  what  was  to  be  ex 
pected.  There  was  no  panic,  no  demoralization,  but  a  deter 
mination  to  meet  without  shrinking  whatever  might  come. 

Companies  F  and  M  had  been  with  Porter  at  Beaver 
Dam ;  D,  H,  C  and  A  had  been  with  Slocum  at  Games'  Mills. 
A  number  of  the  men  had  been  wounded  and  a  number  more 
had  their  horses  shot  under  them. 

The  other  six  companies  were  ordered  to  the  front  be 
yond  the  field  of  Fair  Oaks.  Again  the  persistent  skirmish- 


132  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ing  by  the  enemy  indicated  the  probability  of  an  attack  in 
force.  The  formidable  earthworks  were  filled  with  men  in 
constant  readiness  to  meet  the  attack.  This  continual  threat 
ening  by  Magruder  was  the  carrying  out  of  the  plan  of  the 
Confederates  to  prevent  the  sending  of  Union  forces  from 
this  part  of  the  line  to  reinforce  the  right  wing,  against 
which  the  main  part  of  their  army  had  been  massed. 

A  paymaster  was  engaged  in  paying  a  regiment  near 
the  front  when  the  enemy's  shells  began  to  fall  and  burst 
around  him.  He  packed  up  his  treasury  in  his  iron-bound 
trunk  and  sought  a  place  of  safety. 

Late  in  the  day  the  regiment  returned  to  its  camp. 
Divisions  and  brigades  were  changing  positions.  Batteries 
of  artillery  that  had  been  guarding  different  points  along  the 
river  were  coming  in.  We  heard  the  noise  of  explosions. 
Trains  had  been  set  to  blow  up  the  bridges. 

The  29th  was  Sunday.  Each  man  took  what  effects  he 
thought  indispensable,  what  rations  he  could  conveniently 
carry,  a  new  supply  of  ammunition,  and  the  six  companies 
not  detached  took  up  the  line  of  march  towards  Savage's 
Station.  The  march  was  slow  with  frequent  halts.  Large 
bodies  of  troops  on  different  roads  were  moving  toward  the 
station.  The  roads  were  obstructed  by  wagon  trains. 
Each  of  the  more  than  five  thousand  wagons  of  the  army 
was  drawn  by  a  team  of  four  or  six  horses  or  mules.  The 
long  mule  teams  would  get  twisted  around  and  tangled  up, 
and  the  dismal  chorus  of  braying  mules  and  the  shouting 
and  swearing  of  the  drivers  added  to  the  confusion. 

General  Lee  seems  to  have  expected  that  the  Union 
army  would  fall  back.  His  mistake  was  in  supposing  that 
the  retreat  would  be  down  the  north  side  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy.  General  Stoneman,  by  the  skilful  maneuvering  of 
his  cavalry,  helped  to  convey  the  impression  that  this  was 
McClellan's  plan.  Because  of  this  the  retreat  to  the  James 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  133 

was  in  progress  more  than  twelve  hours  before  the  enemy 
knew  with  certainty  what  was  being  done.  The  time  con 
sumed  in  his  marching  back  to  the  crossing  places  was  well 
used  by  the  Union  army. 

In  the  meantime  the  wounded  had  been  collected  at 
Savage's  Station.  After  the  battle  of  Games'  Mill  many 
of  the  wounded  had  not  been  able  to  get  across  the  river 
that  day.  These,  one  by  one,  or  in  small  companies,  after 
much  suffering,  were  now  finding  their  way  to  the  station. 
Nearly  twenty-five  hundred  were  here.  There  were  not 
buildings  nor  tents  enough  for  them.  The  trees  fur 
nished  shelter  for  many.  The  rest  were  lying  on  the 
ground  under  the  open  sky.  The  surgeons  had  been 
busy.  A  little  distance  away  was  a  mound  of  amputated 
limbs.  The  regiment  halted  near  by.  Some  of  the  men 
passed  among  the  wounded  to  see  if  they  could  find  acquaint 
ances.  There  were  shallow  trenches  dug  in  the  light,  sandy 
soil,  and  every  little  while  a  dead  soldier  was  brought  out, 
laid  in  a  trench,  his  blanket  folded  over  him,  and  the  earth 
shoveled  upon  him. 

These  pale,  battered,  bandaged  men  would  anxiously 
ask — "Are  there  any  ambulances  coming?"  "Are  they  go 
ing  to  leave  us  behind?"  But  McClellan  had  "ordered  all 
the  ambulances  to  depart  unincumbered ;  four  or  five  thou 
sand  sick  men  would  so  embarrass  the  army  that  escape 
might  be  impossible ;  and  that,  much  as  it  had  to  be  regretted, 
it  was  a  matter  of  stern  necessity  to  leave  our  wounded  in 
the  hands  of  the  enemy." 

It  had  been  the  purpose  to  send  as  many  as  possible  to 
the  White  House  to  be  taken  on  transports  to  Northern 
hospitals.  A  loaded  train  was  ready  to  go,  when  suddenly 
the  telegraph  ceased  to  work.  The  train  was  run  down  the 
track  a  few  miles,  when  it  was  learned  that  the  Confederates 
were  in  possession,  and  the  train  returned. 


134  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Those  in  charge  of  the  White  House  had  been  in 
structed,  upon  the  appearance  of  danger,  to  send  around  to 
the  James  river  all  the  stores  that  could  be  transported,  and 
to  burn  the  rest.  Lieut.  Wilson,  one  of  those  in  charge, 
wrote  of  this:  "Such  quantities  of  elegant  new  tents;  nice 
beds  for  the  sick;  of  fine  liquors  and  wines;  cordials  and 
medicines;  oranges,  lemons,  beef,  corn,  whisky;  immense 
quantities  of  hay;  boxes  on  boxes  of  clothing,  and  every 
thing  conceivable  for  use  and  comfort  were  committed  to 
the  flames."  The  White  House  itself  was  burned. 

General  Sumner  with  his  own  corps  and  parts  of  the 
corps  of  Heintzelman  and  Franklin,  was  to  hold  the  enemy 
in  check  at  Savage's  Station  while  the  rest  of  the  army 
was  pushing  on  toward  the  James  river.  On  high,  open 
ground  batteries  of  artillery  were  placed,  with  guns  un- 
limbered  and  in  position  to  resist  an  attack. 

Companies  C  and  A,  Captains  Boyd  and  Jones,  were 
on  picket  along  the  river.  The  enemy  was  delayed  by  the 
necessity  of  rebuilding  bridges  that  had  been  destroyed,  and 
it  was  not  until  late  in  the  afternoon  that  they  were  cross 
ing  the  river.  Then  the  cavalry  companies  were  deployed, 
and  as  the  enemy  advanced,  fell  back  skirmishing. 

When  the  wounded  learned  that  they  were  to  be  left 
behind,  hundreds  of  those  who  were  not  totally  disabled 
started  on  in  the  direction  in  which  the  army  was  moving. 
Weak  and  faint,  they  followed  along  as  best  they  could. 
Some  would  give  out  by  the  way,  but  after  a  brief  rest  they 
would  feebly  but  persistently  struggle  on.  Comrades 
would  support  and  help  each  other. 

The  Eighth  Illinois  cavalry  had  been  ordered  to  escort 
and  guard  the  long  train.  Men  of  this  regiment  would  dis 
mount  and  help  the  wounded  to  the  saddle,  while  they 
themselves  would  walk. 

It  was  pitiful  to  see  the  helpless  when  they  found  that 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  135 

they  were  to  be  left  behind.  Many  exclaimed  that  "they 
would  rather  die  than  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels. 'r 
Their  physical  pains  were  less  intense  than  their  mental 
agony. 

Company  E  was  ordered  forward  as  a  special  guard  to 
Franklin's  train,  leaving  only  five  companies  not  detached. 

Orders  had  been  given  that  all  stores  which  could  not 
be  carried  along  should  be  destroyed.  About  noon  the 
work  of  destruction  was  begun.  Many  of  these  stores 
would  be  especially  needed  by  the  sick  and  wounded  that 
\vere  to  be  left  behind.  But  the  orders  were  to  burn.  Bar 
rels  of  meat,  sugar,  coffee,  whisky,  turpentine,  cords  of 
boxes  of  crackers,  were  added  to  the  burning  piles.  Great, 
black  volumes  of  smoke  and  cinders  rolled  upward  and 
floated  away  high  on  the  winds.  Frequent  explosions  of 
ammunition  added  something  of  terror  to  the  spectacle. 

Standing  on  the  track  was  a  long  train  of  cars  loaded 
with  ammunition.  It  had  been  the  intention  to  send  this 
train  to  the  White  House.  But  it  was  now  too  late.  The 
enemy  was  in  possession  there,  and  the  railroad  bridge 
across  the  Chickahominy  had  been  destroyed.  The  only 
thing  to  do  to  prevent  this  ammunition  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  was  to  destroy  it.  The  train  was  to 
be  set  on  fire  and  run  into  the  river.  The  engine  was  under 
a  full  head  of  steam  as  the  regiment  moved  on. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.D.,  was  chaplain  of  the  Sixty- 
third  Pennsylvania  volunteers.  He  chose  to  remain  a  vol 
untary  prisoner  to  minister  to  the  sick  and  wounded.  He 
had  opportunities  to  observe  many  things  that  a  soldier  in 
the  ranks  could  not  see.  His  account  is  here  given, — 

"The  engine  attached  to  the  train  was  ready  at  any  moment  to 
spring  on  the  track,  each  of  the  cars  was  set  on  fire,  and  when  the 
flames  began  to  wind  around  the  wooden  structures  the  train  was  put 
in  motion.  Being  a  descending  grade,  it  was  soon  rushing  on  with 


136  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  wildest  fury,  and  every  revolution  of  the  wheels  added  to  the 
volume  of  the  flames,  until  the  eye  ceased  to  see  the  structure  of  the 
cars,  and  only  beheld  a  terrific  monster,  which,  like  some  huge  serpent 
of  fire,  had  come  forth  to  add  a  new  feature  of  horror  to  the  scene. 
On  and  on  it  rushed,  with  a  roar  which  caused  the  hills  to  tremble.  I 
could  not  think  of  anything  as  a  suitable  representation  of  a  spectacle 
so  grand,  but  that  of  a  thousand  thunderbolts  chained  together,  and 
wreathed  with  lightning,  rushing  with  scathing  fury  and  the  roar  of 
the  tornado  over  the  trembling  earth.  In  a  few  seconds  the  engine,  cars 
and  wheels  were  nothing  but  one  long  chain  of  fire,  a  frightful  meteor 
flashing  past  us. 

The  distance  from  Savage's  Station  to  the  Chickahominy  is  about 
one  and  a  half  miles.  I  had  placed  myself  on  one  of  the  eminences  near 
our  hospital,  from  which  I  had  a  fine  view  of  the  railroad  and  the 
coming  train.  I  knew  that  the  long  bridge  over  the  river  was  burned. 
The  train  plunged  past  me  like  some  vast  monster  from  a  sea  of  fire. 
On  it  thundered  until  there  was  a  stupendous  crash,  and  far  up  in  the 
heavens  were  thrown  burning  fragments  of  the  cars.  This  was  suc 
ceeded  by  the  explosion  of  bombs  and  kegs  of  powder.  Now  a  great 
shell  dashed  into  the  air  with  a  wild  and  angry  shriek;  this  burst,  and 
left  behind  a  flash  of  flame ;  and  again  another  darted  forth  and  tore 
with  fury  through  the  branches  of  the  forest  trees ;  and  bomb  after 
bomb  sprang  from  the  fiery  mass,  hissing  and  screaming  like  fiends  in 
agony,  and  coursing  in  every  direction  through  the  forests  and  clear 
heavens.  Such  was  the  momentum  of  this  train,  that  when  it  reached 
the  chasm  it  sprang  out  fully  forty  feet,  and  the  engine  and  first  car 
leaped  over  the  first  pier  in  the  stream,  and  there  it  hangs,  one  of  the 
most  impressive  monuments  of  the  Peninsular  disasters." 

The  work  of  the  rear  guard  calls  for  peculiar  heroism. 
At  Savage's  Station,  Sumner  with  his  twenty  thousand 
men  drawn  up  in  the  open  field  met  all  the  re 
quirements.  All  day  the  rest  of  the  army,  long 
columns  of  infantry,  batteries  of  artillery,  wagon  trains, 
detachments  of  cavalry,  generals  with  their  staffs  and 
escorts,  had  been  moving  past  the  station  towards 
the  James.  The  last  was  Heintzelman,  who,  with  his  staff, 
left  at  four  o'clock.  Through  all  this  moving,  the  long 
lines  of  the  rear  guard  stayed  on  the  field.  They  could 
look  for  no  support.  They  could  only  wait  and  look  for  the 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  137 

enemy,  and  beat  them  back  that  the  rest  of  the  army  might 
be  saved. 

General  Sumner  had  once  been  asked  by  some  prom 
inent  civilians,  what  he  thought  of  the  prospects  of  putting 
down  the  rebellion.  His  reply  was,  "It  is  a  soldier's  busi 
ness  to  think  only  of  his  duty,  and  how  best  to  perform  it." 
His  presence  and  bearing  now  imparted  to  his  men  his  own 
spirit  of  determination  and  unflinching  heroism.  In  Frank 
lin  he  had  an  able  and  skillful  lieutenant.  The  men  of  C 
and  A  had  here  the  opportunity  of  witnessing  some  of  the 
most  heroic  fighting  of  the  civil  war. 

At  five  o'clock  a  cloud  of  dust  announced  the  coming 
of  the  Confederates.  In  grim  silence  the  rear  guard  waited 
for  them.  Before  the  fire  of  artillery  and  infantry  that 
greeted  them  they  fell  back.  In  the  center,  and  on  the 
right  and  left,  in  successive  advances  they  tried  to  break 
that  line.  The  men  of  one  command  had  been  lying  down 
that  the  enemy's  artillery  fire  might  pass  over  them,  when 
orders  came  for  them  to  charge  the  battery.  Instantly  they 
arose,  fixed  bayonets  and  started  forward.  In  a  moment 
they  were  among  the  guns.  A  line  of  infantry  was  falling 
back  where,  in  its  weakest  place,  it  had  been  hard  pressed. 
Sumner,  placing  himself  in  front  of  two  regiments,  waving 
his  hat,  led  them  on,  restoring  the  line  and  driving  the 
enemy  back. 

Until  after  dusk  the  Confederates  with  yells  of  despera 
tion  repeated  their  assaults.  With  cheers  of  defiance  the 
rear  guard  repelled  every  assault. 

Two  regimental  lines  were  near  each  other,  unable  in 
the  dim  light  to  tell  friend  from  foe.  Ten  paces  apart  they 
halted,  and  peering  through  the  darkness,  each  challenged 
the  other.  They  were  enemies,  and  simultaneously  they 
fired  into  each  other's  faces. 

At  half  past  eight  the  Confederates  ceased  from  their 


138  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

attempts  to  break  the  line  of  that  rear  guard.  Sumner,, 
even  at  that  hour,  wished  to  take  the  aggressive,  and  spoke 
of  sending  to  McClellan  for  permission  to  drive  the  enemy 
into  the  Chickahominy.  But  he  was  reminded  that  the 
orders  were  to  fall  back.  With  an  emphatic  protest  he  set 
his  army  in  motion.  A  violent  storm  came  on  through 
which  the  army  continued  its  retreat.  During  the  night 
and  the  next  morning  all  had  crossed  White  Oak  bridge. 
The  bridge  was  then  destroyed. 

A  battery  on  the  field  was  not  notified  of  the  with 
drawal  of  the  army.  The  next  morning  the  captain  was 
awakened  by  reveille  from  camps  where  he  knew  our  men 
were  not  the  night  before.  They  were  camps  of  the  enemy. 
He  had  been  left  behind.  Quickly  and  quietly  the  horses 
were  hitched  up.  With  two  guns  in  the  rear  to  fire  upon 
any  pursuers,  the  battery  was  hurried  on  and  crossed  the 
bridge  in  safety. 

It  is  due  to  the  Confederates  to  say  that  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  3Oth,  when  they  took  possession  of  Savage's  Sta 
tion,  they  assured  the  surgeons  and  Chaplain  Marks  that 
they  should  be  treated  with  all  consideration  possible.  A 
Confederate  guard  was  placed  about  the  hospital,  and  there 
was  no  rudeness  nor  unkindness  shown  to  anyone.  After 
the  storm  during  the  night,  the  morning  of  the  3Oth  was 
clear  and  fresh.  White  Oak  swamp  is  about  a  hundred 
rods  wide,  with  a  thick  growth  of  trees  and  bushes.  The 
road  through  it  was  low  and  sandy,  but  passable.  The 
swamp  was  not  inundated.  The  bridge  over  the  stream 
that  ran  through  the  center  was  but  a  few  rods  in  length. 
On  either  side  of  the  swamp  was  high,  open  ground  with 
thick  pine  woods  behind.  On  the  high  ground  on  the  south 
side  Franklin  had  slight  redoubts  thrown  up.  In  these  he 
placed  his  guns  to  sweep  the  crossing  where  the  bridge  had 
been  destroyed.  Infantry  was  in  supporting  distance.  Be- 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  139 

hind  the  infantry  was  an  immense  mass  of  wagons  parked, 
with  teams  unhitched.  During  that  forenoon  we  rested. 

About  one  o'clock  a  shell  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 
swamp  came  over  our  heads  and  fell  among  the  parked 
wagons.  Immediately  there  arose  confusion.  There  was 
hitching  of  teams  "in  hot  haste.''  Many  of  the  drivers  in 
their  fright  would  have  abandoned  wagons  and  teams. 
Quartermaster  Bailey  with  promptness  checked  what  would 
have  been  a  stampede.  With  revolver  in  hand  he  compelled 
the  drivers  to  go  back  to  their  teams.  Under  his  manage 
ment  the  train  was  soon  beyond  the  reach  of  the  enemy's 
fire. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Jackson  had  thirty  guns  in  posi 
tion,  with  his  infantry  massed  in  the  woods  behind  them, 
ready  to  cross  the  swamp.  For  nearly  an  hour  the  fire  from 
these  guns  was  rapid  and  severe.  Franklin's  guns  replied 
with  equal  rapidity.  So  suddenly  had  this  fire  opened 
that  some  of  the  infantry  were  not  prepared  for  it.  One 
regiment,  following  the  example  of  its  commander,  broke 
for  the  rear,  but  was  halted  by  another  regiment  and  or 
dered  back  to  its  place.  Its  nervous  and  demoralized  colonel 
then  strayed  off  a  little  way  and  sat  down  among  some 
privates  of  a  neighboring  regiment,  where  he  thought  he 
would  be  less  exposed.  One  of  them  in  disgust  asked 
him, — "Don't  your  own  regiment  need  you?  We  have 
officers  enough  of  our  own  regiment  here."  The  poor 
colonel  in  his  terror  was  to  be  pitied.  It  was  necessary  for 
the  cavalry  to  check  some  of  the  timid  and  send  them  back 
to  their  lines.  A  few  trees  were  pre-empted  by  officers  as 
sheltering  places. 

A  call  was  made  on  Company  B  for  a  couple  of  special 
orderlies.  Kerr  and  Besley  jumped  at  the  chance,  and  for 
the  rest  of  the  fight  were  at  the  front  among  the  bullets  of 
sharpshooters  as  well  as  bursting  shells.  Besley  had  been 


140  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

under  arrest  for  several  days  for  presuming  to  "talk  back" 
to  an  abusive  sergeant.  The  lieutenant  of  the  company 
released  him  from  arrest  and  allowed  him  to  go  back  into 
the  ranks.  The  sergeant  showed  some  spite  at  this  inter 
ference  with  what  he  regarded  as  his  prerogative,  with  a 
threat,  "Oi'l  fix  oo  yet."  Besley  preferred  the  freedom  of 
the  open  battlefield  to  such  restraint,  and  both  he  and  Kerr 
did  fearless  service  during  that  and  the  succeeding  battles. 

Franklin  had  made  his  headquarters  on  a  hill  from 
which  his  cannon  could  sweep  the  road  across  the  swamp. 
Near  by  was  a  house  in  which  lived  an  old  man  with  a  wife 
and  young  child.  Seeing  the  guns  placed  in  position  around 
his  house,  the  old  man  asked  if  there  would  probably  be  a 
fight  there,  and  if  so,  how  long  before  it  would  begin.  The 
general  replied  that  there  surely  would  be  a  fight,  and  it 
might  begin  in  half  an  hour.  The  man  said  he  would  take 
his  wife  and  child  to  a  place  of  safety  at  his  brothers's,  a 
mile  or  so  down  the  swamp,  and  then  would  come  back. 
"But  why  come  back  at  all?"  the  general  asked.  He  re 
plied, — "If  I  don't  come  back  and  take  care  of  my  chickens 
and  ducks  your  men  will  take  them  all."  Soon  after  he 
had  returned  a  cannon  ball  took  off  one  of  his  legs,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  he  had  bled  to  death. 

Franklin  speaks  of  this  bombardment  as  one  which, 
for  severity,  he  never  heard  equaled  in  the  field.  During 
this  heavy  firing  a  body  of  Confederate  cavalry  appeared  as 
if  intending  to  attempt  a  crossing,  but  they  met  such  a 
storm  from  the  Federal  guns  that  they  quickly  withdrew. 
Jackson  seemed  to  give  up  the  idea  of  crossing,  but  the  fire 
from  his  batteries  and  from  sharpshooters  in  the  swamp 
was  kept  up  during  the  afternoon. 

The  wagons  had  been  withdrawn  to  the  rear,  and  out 
of  range.  But  so  rapid  had  been  the  firing  that  the  am 
munition  needed  replenishing.  Besley  was  sent  to  bring  up 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  141 

a  wagon.  The  colored  driver,  whose  reluctance  to  go  into 
the  storm  of  shot  and  shell  bullets  at  the  extreme  front  could 
be  overcome  only  by  the  sight  of  a  revolver  and  the  orderly's 
threat  to  shoot  him  if  he  did  not  hurry  up,  was,  in  his  ter 
ror  that  almost  made  him  look  pale,  an  illustration  of  a 
man  between  two  fires. 

Under  the  hill  by  the  side  of  the  road  through  the 
swamp  was  a  flowing  spring  which  furnished  excellent 
water  until  the  Confederate  sharpshooters  in  the  swamp 
stopped  the  canteen  carriers  from  going  there  any  more. 
The  thirst  on  the  battlefield  became  intense.  The  men  in 
the  rear  of  the  batteries  dug  wells  three  or  four  feet  deep  in 
the  ground  soaked  by  the  last  night's  rain,  and  the  muddy 
water  that  slowly  oozed  through  the  wet  soil  was  dipped 
up  as  fast  as  it  gathered  in  the  bottom  of  the  wells. 

When  it  was  found  impossible  to  cross  in  front  of 
Franklin,  the  Confederates  effected  a  crossing  at  Brackett's 
ford,  a  mile  or  more  to  the  left.  Here,  though  at  some 
distance  from  the  ford,  was  Slocum  with  his  division. 
While  the  fighting  was  heaviest  at  the  bridge  a  brigade  had 
been  sent  from  Slocum  to  aid  Franklin.  But  now  there 
was  pressing  need  in  Slocum's  front  and  the  brigade  was 
recalled.  The  need  became  more  urgent.  Slocum,  able, 
alert  and  anxious,  sent  again, — "Hurry  up  that  brigade !" 
and  the  brigade  returned  at  a  double  quick.  The  day  was 
very  warm,  and  the  men,  carrying  all  their  accoutrements, 
running  as  fast  as  possible  to  be  in  time  to  check  the  onset 
of  the  enemy  and  prevent  a  break  in  the  line,  presented  a 
spectacle  of  one  of  the  peculiar  incidents  of  war.  Strong 
men,  overcome  by  their  exertions  and  the  heat,  dropped  to 
the  ground  and  lay  heavily  panting  in  their  distressing 
effort  to  recover  their  breath.  Wearied  as  the  men  of  this 
brigade  were  with  their  hurried  marching  and  counter 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

marching,  they  hurled  themselves,  just  in  the  nick  of  time, 
against  the  elated  enemy,  and  saved  the  imperiled  line. 

Companies  D,  H  and  K  were  with  Slocum;  C  and  A 
were  with  Franklin;  F  and  M  were  with  Fitz  John  Porter, 
who  had  gone  in  advance  along  the  Quaker  road;  E  had 
gone  with  the  wagon  train.  Colonel  McReynolds  with  the 
rest  of  the  regiment  was  under  the  orders  of  Franklin, 

A  detachment  had  been  sent  to  Slocum's  part  of  the 
field.  On  the  south  side  of  the  open  ground  in  which  the 
armies  were  contending  were  thick  woods. 

A  sergeant  was  sent  to  recall  the  detachment,  and  at 
the  time  he  was  riding  in  front  of  these  woods  the  fire  of 
the  enemy's  artillery  seemed  to  be  concentrated  there.  The 
shells  went  crashing  through  the  timber,  tearing  limbs  from 
trees,  the  falling  limbs  adding  to  the  noise  of  shrieking 
missiles  themselves. 

A  motley  group  of  colored  people  of  all  ages  had 
gathered  to  follow  the  retreating  army.  They  had  become 
bewildered  as  the  line  of  battle  had  lengthened  away  to  the 
left,  and  now  seemed  to  be  swinging  around  to  the  rear 
where  McClellan's  Pennsylvania  reserves  had  been  forced 
back.  They  came  out  of  the  woods  as  this  artillery  fire  was 
especially  severe.  There  was  no  safety  for  them  here,  and 
they  scampered  back  into  the  depths  of  the  dark  forest  like 
a  flock  of  frightened  black  sheep  and  lambs. 

So  determined  had  been  the  attacks  of  the  Confeder 
ates  that  they  had  succeeded  in  forcing  back  portions  of  our 
lines.  At  one  time  it  was  reported  that  somewhere  off  on 
the  left  they  had  broken  the  line,  and  that  Franklin's  com 
mand  wyas  entirely  cut  off  and  in  danger  of  being  sur 
rounded.  At  Glendale  Randol's  battery,  protected  by  a 
light  earthworks,  was  charged  upon.  Other  attacks  had 
been  repelled.  And  now  the  fire  of  the  cannon  cut  long 
lines  through  the  enemy's  ranks,  but  did  not  check  them. 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  143 

They  came  on,  not  in  well-ordered  ranks,  but  with  a  wild 
rush,  sweeping  among,  and  over,  and  past  the  guns. 

The  fighting  had  receded  far  off  to  the  left,  and  finally 
ceased  altogether  on  the  right.  The  forces  were  gradually 
and  silently  being  withdrawn.  Disabled  horses  had  to  be 
killed,  and  abandoned  wagons  burned.  A  battery  had  lost 
many  men  and  horses,  and  some  of  the  guns  were  dis 
mounted.  After  dark  Besley  carried  from  a  brigadier  gen 
eral  an  order  that  the  remaining  guns  should  be  spiked  and 
abandoned.  The  surviving  men  of  the  battery  indignantly 
refused  to  obey  the  order,  and  where  horses  were  wanting, 
the  men  themselves  drew  the  guns  away. 

It  was  aften  ten  o'clock  when  the  cavalry,  that  was  to 
be  the  rear  guard,  was  mounted  and  in  line  waiting  for  a 
detachment  of  the  Fifth  Wisconsin  infantry  to  be  called  in 
from  the  line  that  they  had  held  as  pickets.  The  night 
was  without  moon  or  stars.  So  weary  were  the  cavalry 
men  that  they  were  fast  asleep  on  their  horses.  The  Wis 
consin  men  came  filing  out  of  the  dense  darkness  of  the 
woods,  and  without  a  word,  formed  a  line  in  front  of  the 
cavalry.  At  the  command, — "Halt," — they  stacked  arms, 
dropped  to  the  ground  and  in  an  instant  were  asleep.  All 
but  one.  An  officer  walked  out  to  the  cavalry  and  asked, — 
"Has  anyone  a  drink  of  water  to  spare?"  "Will  anyone 
give  Lieutenant  Oliver  a  drink  of  water?"  No  one  an 
swered  him.  All  were  fast  asleep  on  their  horses.  The 
lieutenant  went  back  to  his  own  line,  and  in  a  moment  was 
fast  asleep  with  his  men. 

After  an  hour,  at  the  command, — "Fall  in," — they 
started  to  their  feet,  mechanically  took  their  arms,  formed 
ranks,  and  silently  marched  away.  The  cavalry  followed, 
bringing  up  the  rear  of  the  retreat  from  the  hard  fought, 
but  maintained  field.  No  words  were  spoken.  Many  slept 
as  they  rode.  Their  way,  after  turning  to  the  left  from  the 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Charles  City  road,  was  by  a  narrow  road  some  distance  to 
the  east  of  the  Quaker  road  and  parallel  with  it.  Some 
time  after  midnight  they  halted  where  the  road  seemed  to 
lead  down  a  ravine.  Dismounting,  they  lay  down  by  the 
side  of  the  road,  holding  the  bridle  reins  in  their  hands,  and 
went  to  sleep.  Suddenly  there  was  a  great  racket  in  the 
rear.  The  thought  came  that  the  rear  guard  had  been  at 
tacked.  The  worst  thing  they  could  do  in  case  of  a  night 
attack  was  to  mount  their  horses.  But  this  they  did,  with 
such  a  startled  quickness  that  it  caused  a  feeling  of  faint- 
ness.  But  there  was  no  stampede.  They  were  quickly  re 
covering  themselves  for  the  coming  fight. 

A  night  alarm  in  the  camp  of  the  Ten  Thousand  Greeks 
was  quieted  by  one  proclaiming  with  a  trumpet,  offering  a  re 
ward  for  the  ''arrest  of  the  man  who  had  turned  the  ass  loose 
among  the  arms."  And  our  tumult  was  soon  over  when  it 
was  known  that  a  horse,  tied  to  a  rail  fence,  probably  asleep 
and  in  troubled  dreams,  had  given  a  sudden  start  and  pulled 
over  a  long  line  of  the  fence.  The  clattering  of  the  rails, 
and  not  an  attack  by  the  enemy,  had  been  the  cause  of  our 
night  alarm.  At  daylight  we  reached  Haxall's  on  the  bank 
of  the  James. 

The  battle  of  the  3Oth  of  June  was  along  a  line  nearly 
four  miles  in  length,  from  White  Oak  bridge  on  the  right 
to  a  position  a  mile  beyond  Willis  Church  on  the  left.  Glen- 
dale  was  about  the  middle  of  this  line  which  was  roughly 
in  the  shape  of  a  great  bow.  It  has  been  known  by  various 
names.  Frayser's,  or  Nelson's  farm  was  on  the  Union  left. 

Much  has  been  said  of  what  was  expected  of  Stone 
wall  Jackson.  Failing  to  cross  where  Franklin  held  the 
bridge,  it  was  expected  that  he  would  move  up  the  creek 
and  cross,  and  add  his  force  to  that  which  at  one  time  was 
dealing  such  heavy  blows  on  the  Union  center.  It  has  been 
said  that  Jackson  was  so  worn  out  by  his  long  continued 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  145 

marching  and  fighting  that  he  lay  down  to  rest  during  the 
fighting  at  White  Oak  bridge  and  fell  asleep,  sleeping 
through  a  good  part  of  the  afternoon. 

On  the  Union  side  a  brigadier  left  his  brigade  to  take 
care  of  itself,  himself  staying  around  corps  headquarters 
until  he  had  to  be  reminded  that  his  place  was  with  his  com 
mand.  Afterward  on  the  plea  that  he  was  not  feeling  well, 
he  had  himself  carried  on  a  stretcher  back  among  the  trees, 
saying  he  would  return  when  he  felt  better. 

In  contrast  with  him  was  an  artilleryman  at  Games' 
Mill.  He  was  the  only  man  left  with  one  gun  of  a  battery 
that  had  suffered  fearful  loss.  He  had  been  shot  through 
the  body  and  could  not  get  away.  A  special  effort  was  being 
made  to  repel  a  Confederate  attack.  The  wounded  man, 
taking  hold  of  the  spokes  of  a  wheel  of  his  cannon,  raised 
himself  so  that  he  could  reach  the  lanyard,  and  fired  his 
last  shot  at  the  enemy. 

General  Kearney  was  endeavoring  to  restore  a  part  of 
the  line  that  had  been  pressed  back.  His  presence  was  an 
inspiration  to  his  men,  as  he  led  them  forward  with  his  en 
couraging  command, — "Go  in,  my  boys!  Go  in  gayly!  Go 
in  gayly,  gayly,  gayly!"  And  they  "went  in"  for  all  they 
were  worth,  and  the  line  was  restored. 

A  Confederate  and  a  Federal  became  matched  in  fight. 
With  fixed  gaze  they  watched  each  other  as  they  thrust, 
and  parried,  and  strove  with  guns  locked.  Among  and  over 
the  dead  they  braced  themselves  and  each  nerved  himself  to 
his  utmost.  Men  on  either  side  paused  in  their  fighting  to 
watch  these  two  men.  The  rush  of  the  fight  around  them 
for  a  second  made  the  Southerner  less  watchful  of  his  an 
tagonist.  The  latter  saw  his  chance,  and  quickly  stepping 
back,  clubbed  his  gun  and  dealt  his  foe  a  blow  that  felled 
him  to  the  earth. 

Protecting  themselves  around  the  corners  of  a  negro 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

house  near  Glendale,  two  opposing  color-bearers,  reaching 
out  their  flags,  waved  them  in  defiance  at  each  other.  On 
one  side  of  the  house  were  the  Confederates,  on  the  other 
the  Federals.  Which  should  get  the  other's  flag?  Finally 
the  Confederates  were  compelled  to  give  way,  and  their  flag 
was  borne  away  from  the  house  into  the  open  ground.  In 
the  midst  of  the  mass  that  surged  around  that  flag,  it  was 
seized  and  kept  by  a  Pennsylvania!!  who  had  become  sepa 
rated  from  his  own  regiment  and  had  fallen  into  the  ranks 
of  another. 

In  one  of  the  early  cavalry  fights  of  this  retreat  two 
mounted  men  became  engaged  with  the  sabre.  With  stroke, 
and  thrust,  and  parry,  they  contended  until  the  others 
ceased  from  fighting  to  watch  this  desperate  sabre  duel.  At 
length  the  Confederate,  letting  fall  his  sabre,  drew  his  re 
volver  and  shot  his  antagonist  dead. 

At  one  time  during  the  fight  at  Glendale  so  determined 
were  the  attacks  of  the  Confederates  that  the  issue  seemed 
doubtful.  After  nightfall  some  general  officers  were  con 
sulting  together.  They  expressed  their  anxiety  as  to  the 
result  of  the  next  day's  fighting  if  the  enemy  should  bring 
into  the  field  additional  forces.  The  possibility  of  a  sur 
render  was  suggested.  A  staff  officer  who  was  present  re 
ported  to  the  captain  commanding  a  detachment  of  the  cav 
alry  this  suggestion  of  a  surrender.  At  the  muster-in  of 
the  company  of  which  he  expected  to  be  elected  captain,  he 
had  made  an  eloquent  speech,  urging  the  men  to  choose  as 
officers  those  who  wrould  ''lead  them  to  victory  or  death!'' 
But  so  many  "sights  of  ugly  death"  on  this  3Oth  of  June 
had  made  him  think  of  death  as  not  the  most  desirable 
alternative  in  case  they  could  not  gain  the  victory.  After  a 
night's  reflection,  the  next  morning  he  called  his  command 
to  attention,  and  made  another  speech.  He  spoke  of  the 
desperate  character  of  the  fighting,  the  uncertainty  of  the 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  147 

result,  and  the  possible  necessity  of  a  surrender  as  suggested 
in  the  consultation  of  generals.  He  proposed  that  his  com 
mand  be  the  first  to  surrender,  as  by  so  doing  they  would 
obtain  better  terms  than  if  they  should  wait  until,  after 
much  more  hard  fighting,  they  should  be  compelled  to  sur 
render.  For  a  second  the  men  listened  in  silence.  Then 
Sergeant  John  S.  McKinley  rode  out  of  the  ranks.  He 
said  the  captain's  proposition  was  equivalent  to  relinquish 
ing  his  command.  The  sergeant  did  not  propose  to  sur 
render,  and  if  any  of  the  men  were  of  his  way  of  thinking 
and  would  come  with  him  they  would  try  to  avoid  a  sur 
render,  at  least  until  there  was  an  enemy  in  sight.  The 
other  officers  and  men  expressed  themselves  emphatically 
against  a  surrender.  The  captain  dropped  the  subject.  The 
colonel,  when  the  affair  was  reported  to  him,  gave  the  cap 
tain  a  reprimand.  He  would  never  surrender  a  command 
of  cavalry.  McKinley  was  reduced  to  the  ranks  for  insub 
ordination.  Possibly,  like  some  other  unfortunates,  he 
talked  too  much.  He  was  transferred  to  another  company, 
and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  was  a  good  fel 
low,  a  good  soldier,  and  an  active  participant  in  many  an 
exciting  adventure.  He  possessed  intellectual  acuteness. 
He  was  ready  to  push  forward  whenever  the  chance  pre 
sented  itself.  In  the  beginning  of  1864  he  did  good  work 
while  detailed  on  recruiting  service.  He  was  a  persuasive 
speaker.  He  had  an  excellent  faculty  in  narrative,  and  his 
experiences  never  lost  anything  in  the  telling. 

Parallel  with  the  general  course  of  the  James  river, 
and  two  miles  from  it,  extends  a  bluff  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  high.  Back  of  this  bluff  is  a  high  table  land 
cut  here  and  there  by  ravines.  On  the  brow  of  this  bluff 
in  its  highest  part  stands  the  ancient  Malvern  house,  built 
of  dark  red  brick  brought  from  England  in  early  colonial 
days.  From  the  front  of  this  house  is  spread  out  a  view 


148  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  wide  lowlands,  open  fields  and  forests,  and  beyond  them 
the  winding  river. 

On  the  high,  open  plain  extending  back  from  the  bluff 
Cornwallis  had  rested  his  army  in  the  summer  of  1781. 
From  here  he  moved  towards  Richmond.  As  he  advanced 
Lafayette  withdrew,  crossing  the  Chickahominy,  and  camp 
ing  for  a  fe\v  days  at  Cold  Harbor.  Later,  as  Cornwallis 
retired  with  his  army  down  the  Peninsula  toward  York- 
town,  Lafayette  followed  him,  and  for  a  time  had  his  head 
quarters  at  this  Malvern  house,  while  his  army  was  en 
camped  on  the  high  grounds  behind  it. 

On  the  ist  of  July  this  house  was  the  headquarters  of 
Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter,  and  the  ground  where  the  British 
and  Continental  armies  had  in  turn  rested,  was  to  be  the 
field  of  a  desperate  battle.  The  night  before  and  the  fore 
noon  the  two  armies  had  been  moving  to  their  positions. 
On  the  left  of  the  Union  line  was  Porter.  Franklin  was 
on  the  extreme  right,  ready  to  meet  an  anticipated  assault. 
But  this  assault  was  not  made.  The  companies  of  cavalry 
at  the  headquarters  of  Franklin  and  Slocum  had  a  respite 
this  day.  But  F  and  M  which  were  with  Porter  witnessed 
desperate  fighting  which  continued  from  early  in  the  after 
noon  until  after  night  fall.  Everywhere  the  determined, 
sometimes  reckless,  assaults  of  the  Confederates  were  re 
pulsed  with  fearful  slaughter. 

Near  the  Parsonage  a  Confederate  sharpshooter  found 
by  the  roadside  an  old  millstone,  about  four  feet  in  diam 
eter,  with  a  hole  in  the  center.  He  had  been  fighting  with 
out  any  protection.  Here  was  a  defence  behind  which  he 
could  fight  in  perfect  safety.  With  great  exertion  he  set 
the  stone  up  on  edge,  and  getting  down  behind  it  fired 
through  the  hole  in  the  center.  He  had  fired  but  a  single 
shot  when  a  Federal  bullet  came  straight  through  the  hole 


BEAVER-  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  149 

in  the  stone,  and,  striking  him  in  the  forehead,  killed  him 
instantly. 

In  the  river  was  a  fleet  of  gunboats.  One  of  these  was 
the  Delaware,  commanded  by  Captain  Foster  who  had  con 
voyed  the  transports  down  the  bay.  While  the  battle  was 
raging,  directed  by  signals,  he  threw  his  enormous  shells 
clear  over  the  Union  army  and  among  the  Confederates. 
The  bursting  of  these  shells  created  consternation.  While 
they  cared  little  for  ordinary  artillery  fire,  they  dreaded 
these  fiendish  missiles. 

In  the  command  of  the  Confederate  General  John  B. 
Gordon,  as  he  relates,  a  wide  gap  in  his  ranks  was  made 
by  the  explosion  of  one  of  these  shells.  A  cotton-tail  rab 
bit,  startled  from  its  hiding  place  in  front  of  the  line,  darted 
through  the  gap  and  away  to  the  rear.  A  soldier  stand 
ing  on  one  side  of  the  gap  shouted  after  it, — "Go  it !  cotton 
tail!  I  wish  I  could  go,  too!"  Another  standing  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  gap  responded, — "Begorra,  and  I 
would  go  with  you,  Mollie,  if  I  hadn't  a  character  to  keep !" 

In  the  morning  after  General  Porter  had  arranged  his 
men  around  the  Crew  house,  General  McClellan  rode  over 
the  field  and  gave  some  general  directions  concerning  the 
placing  of  .corps  and  divisions.  At  nine  o'clock  he  went  on 
board  one  of  the  gunboats,  the  Galena,  and  went  down  the 
river  to  find  a  suitable  place  to  \vhich  his  army  could  retreat. 
At  noon  he  reached  Harrison's  landing.  Having  carefully 
examined  the  locality  he  returned  up  the  river. 

In  the  meantime  the  battle  had  been  raging  with  the 
greatest  fury.  Sitting  on  the  deck  of  the  Galena,  smoking 
a  cigar,  McClellan  listened  to  the  terrific  roar.  The  day 
before,  when  the  battle  had  raged  from  White  Oak  bridge 
to  Willis  Church,  McClellan  had  not  been  on  the  field. 

He  was  not  on  the  field  at  Malvern  Hill,  until  Heintzet- 
man,  late  in  the  afternoon,  signalled  to  him  that  his  absence 


150  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

was  noticed,  and  was  the  subject  of  unfavorable  comment 
among  the  officers  and  men,  and  begged  him  to  come  to  the 
field.  In  response  to  this  message  he  landed  and  rode  to 
the  field,  reaching  it  after  most  of  the  hardest  fighting  was 
done. 

From  Savage's  Station,  late  at  night  after  the  battle  at 
Games'  Mill,  McClellan  sent  this  message  to  the  secretary 
of  war :  "If  I  save  this  army  now,  I  tell  you  plainly  that  I 
owe  no  thanks  to  you  or  any  other  persons  in  Washington. 
You  have  done  your  best  to  sacrifice  this  army."  The 
morning  of  the  battle  of  Glendale  the  French  Prince  de 
Joinville,  a  volunteer  aide  on  McClellan's  staff,  said  to 
General  Franklin :  "Advise  General  McClellan  to  concen 
trate  his  army  at  this  point  and  fight  a  battle  to-day;  if  he 
does  so,  he  will  be  in  Richmond  to-morrow." 

After  the  repulse  of  the  last  Confederate  assault  at 
Malvern  Hill,  General  Porter  and  some  of  his  division  and 
brigade  commanders  were  at  Malvern  house,  when  orders 
were  received  from  McClellan  for  the  army  to  retire  during 
the  night  to  Harrison's  landing.  Dr.  Marks  says : — "When 
this  order  was  received  some  refused  to  obey  it."  General 
Kearney  said  in  the  presence  of  many  officers : — "I, 
Philip  Kearney,  an  old  soldier,  enter  my  solemn  protest 
against  this  order  for  retreat.  We  ought,  instead  of  re 
treating,  to  follow  up  the  enemy  and  take  Richmond.  And 
in  full  view  of  all  the  responsibility  of  such  a  declaration, 
I  say  to  you  all,  such  an  order  can  only  be  prompted  by 
cowardice  or  treason." 

Sergeant  Edward  Lake  of  Company  F  was  near  this 
group  of  officers  and  heard  these  words  of  General  Kearney. 
In  repeating  them  he  supplied  the  emphasis  that  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Marks  left  out. 

In  every  one  of  these  battles,  except  Games'  Mill  where 
Porter  with  35,000  men  contended  against  70,000,  the  Con- 


BEAVER  DAM  TO  MALVERN  HILL.  151 

federates  were  repulsed.     After  each  one  of  them  the  Union 
army  fell  back  in  the  skillfully  executed  change  of  base. 

In  1898  the  writer  visited  these  fields  of  the  "Seven  Days'  battles." 
The  national  cemeteries,  which  are  neatly  kept,  are  a  proof  of  the  char 
acter  of  the  fighting  that  was  done.  He  was  indebted  to  the  keepers 
of  these  cemeteries,  especially  to  Mr.  James,  of  Glendale,  and  to  Con 
federate  veterans,  for  many  courtesies  while  making  inquiries.  At 
Glendale  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  estimable  family  of  Airs. 
Jane  Allanson  Potter  who,  a  girl  of  fourteen,  the  oldest  of  seven  chil 
dren,  stood  in  the  doorway  of  her  widowed  mother's  cottage  in  the 
dusk  of  the  evening,  and  with  indefinable  dread  listened  to  the  muffled 
tread  of  McClellan's  first  columns.  Her  reminiscences  of  those  four 
years  would  make  an  interesting  and  valuable  contribution  to  the  his 
tory  of  the  period.  At  Greenwood  he  made  the  valued  acquaintance  of 
Mrs.  M.  V.  Tantum,  whose  carriage  was  placed  at  his  service  for 
visiting  many  localities.  He  met  the  original  Nelson  of  Nelson's  farm, 
who  was  a  guide  to  the  Confederate  generals,  and  attended  a  picnic 
at  the  former  home  of  General  Pickett. 

Many  of  the  earthworks  had  never  been  disturbed.  In  places 
people  had  picked  up  bullets  like  acorns.  Imprints  of  them  were  thick 
around  and  inside  the  Parsonage.  Malvern  house  bore  marks  of  can 
non  shots.  A  twelve  pound  ball  that  had  been  rusting  peacefully  in 
the  yard  of  the  West  house  was  brought  away  as  a  relic.  A  few  of  the 
hundred  pound  Parrott  shells  that  had  been  fired  from  the  gunboats 
were  yet  lying  in  the  woods.  They  were  too  heavy  to  carry  away,  and 
no  one  cared  to  meddle  with  them.  But  there  came  one  who  was  pos 
sessed  of  a  fatal  curiosity.  It  had  not  been  his  lot  to  take  part  in  a 
battle.  As  one  of  the  features  of  a  fight  he  wanted  to  see  this  thing 
"go  off".  He  attached  a  long  fuse,  and  at  a  safe  distance,  as  he  sup 
posed,  placed  himself  behind  a  tree  to  watch.  The  engine  was  heavily 
loaded ;  the  tree  was  shattered,  and  the  man  blown  into  fragments. 

Northern  men  of  wealth  had  purchased  desirable  estates.  One  had 
bought  5.000  acres  at  Curl's  Neck,  had  built  a  stately  home  on  the 
bank  of  the  James,  and  was  bringing  his  great  farm  into  the  highest 
state  of  cultivation.  Malvern  and  Westover  were  owned  by  northern 
men.  Good  roads  had  been  made  and  miles  of  roadside  shade  trees 
had  been  planted.  The  pine  forests  will  yet  be  valuable.  Under  the 
Malvern  bluffs  are  extensive  beds  of  marl,  the  deposit  of  the  sea  in 
past  geological  ages,  a  valuable  fertilizer.  In  this  marl  are  found  fish 
bones  and  sharks'  teeth. 

On  this  peaceful  visit  there  was  leisure  to  look  up  historic  localities. 
Cold  Harbor  was  one  of  the  homes  of  Powhatan.  It  was  up  and  down 


152  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  Chickahominy  that  Captain  John  Smith  had  his  encounters  with 
the  Indians,  and  it  was  here  that  he  was  taken  captive  by  them.  About 
ten  miles  above  Yorktown  Queen's  creek  flows  into  the  York  river. 
On  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  this 
creek  was  Werowocomoco,  the  favorite  residence  of  Powhatan.  It  was 
here,  according  to  good  authority,  that  Smith's  life  was  saved  by  Poca- 
hontas.  Governor  Page  lived  here,  and  he  gave  to  the  place  the  shorter 
name,  Shelly,  from  the  great  mounds  of  oyster  shells  that  indicated 
that  it  had  been  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Indians. 

These  fields  of  the  battles  of  1862  were  the  scenes  of  other  battles 
in  1864.  Sheridan's  cavalry  in  their  great  raid  in  the  beginning  of 
Grant's  final  campaign  stayed  around  here  for  three  days.  They  lived 
partly  on  what  they  could  find.  It  was  said  their  orders  were  in  no 
case  to  take  more  than  they  could  carry.  What  they  took  they  con 
sumed  on  the  spot.  When  they  went  away  there  was  so  little  left  that 
some  of  the  residents  picked  up  the  scattered  corn  that  the  horses  had 
not  eaten,  washed,  cooked  and  ate  it.  In  the  flight  of  birds  the  Roman 
augurs  were  wont  to  foresee  coming  events.  Here  it  was  noticed  that 
a  sudden  flurry  among  domestic  fowls  indicated  that  they  discerned 
the  coming  of  cavalry.  In  one  instance,  while  the  rest  of  the  flock 
flew  to  covert  among  the  trees  and  bushes,  a  pet  rooster  ran  through 
the  open  door  into  the  house.  A  young  girl  caught  it  up,  and,  running 
upstairs  shut  it  in  a  small  closet,  thinking  that  here  in  the  dark  it 
would  keep  still  and  be  safe.  But  the  cavalrymen  began  to  search  the 
house  for  arms.  The  clanking  of  scabbards  and  the  rattling  of  spurs 
startled  the  imprisoned  rooster  and  he  began  to  crow.  The  girl 
thought  he  was  gone  now,  sure.  But  she  caught  up  a  strip  of  mos 
quito  netting,  and,  running  to  the  closet,  wrapped  it  around  his  bill  so 
as  to  give  him  a  chance  to  breathe  and  yet  keep  his  mouth  shut.  When 
Sheridan's  men  moved  away  this  was  the  only  rooster  left  for  miles 
around. 

Grant  fought  again  at  Cold  Harbor,  and  again  at  Glendale  found 
Lee  confronting  him.  While  Lee  was  building  formidable  earthworks, 
Grant,  leaving  only  a  skirmish  line  for  show,  hurried  his  army  across 
the  James  and  up  the  Appomattox,  and  suddenly  appeared  before 
Petersburg. 

Returning  from  Harrison's  Landing  to  Richmond,  the  neat  steamer 
Pocahontas  passed  the  scenes  of  memorable  events  along  the  now 
unobstructed  river. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
HARRISON'S  LANDING. 

night  after  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill  the  five  com 
panies  of  the  regiment  rested  in  an  open  field  near 
HaxalFs  landing.  Early  the  next  morning  we  were  ready 
to  march.  The  morning  was  misty ;  the  mist  soon  turning 
to  a  light  rain.  After  some  delay  we  reached  the  main 
road,  where  we  found  the  whole  army  on  the  march.  The 
light  rain  became  a  steady  downpour,  and  this  continued 
all  day. 

Little  order  was  observed  on  the  retreat.  In  the  rain 
and  mud  all  branches  of  the  service  were  crowding  on. 
The  road  was  crowded  from  fence  to  fence.  Ambulances 
filled  with  wounded,  jolted  and  pitched  through  the  mud. 
Drivers  shouting  and  yelling  were  urging  on  their  teams. 
Streams  with  narrow  bridges,  broken  down  wagons,  and 
other  obstructions  would  now  and  then  delay  the  struggling 
mass. 

Toward  night  after  this  toilsome  march  of  about  eight 
miles  we  reached  Harrison's  landing.  The  cavalry  regi 
ment  arriving  among  the  first,  went  into  a  fine  clover  field 
some  distance  below  the  landing,  and  the  men  began  to  put 
up  their  little  shelter  tents  and  make  the  best  of  the  com 
fortless  situation,  A  sergeant  of  B  expecting  that  there 
would  be  delay  in  drawing  rations,  rode  at  once  to  a  com 
missary  boat  at  the  landing,  and  without  any  requisition, 

153 


154  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

but  the  plea  that  he  was  hungry,  asked  for  a  box  of  crackers. 
It  was  given  to  him  without  a  question,  and  he  carried  it 
on  the  pommel  of  his  saddle  back  to  camp.  He  was  ob 
served,  and  late  at  night  the  adjutant  came  to  him  and 
asked  for  a  few  of  his  crackers,  saying  that  the  officers  at 
headquarters  hadn't  a  thing  to  eat,  and  couldn't  get  any 
thing.  He  was  told  to  help  himself. 

The  next  morning  the  storm  was  over.  To  meet  a 
possible  attack  from  the  Confederates  the  army  was  ordered 
out.  After  marching  and  counter  marching,  and  waiting 
for  hours  in  ground  trampled  into  the  consistency  of  mortar 
many  inches  deep,  the  men  went  back  to  their  camps. 

There  was  some  firing  during  the  day,  mostly  from 
the  gunboats  shelling  the  woods  in  the  distance.  Just  be 
fore  night  the  regiment  moved  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
away  from  the  river.  Because  of  the  lack  of  forage,  we 
grazed  our  horses  in  an  oat  field  until  midnight. 

There  was  anxiety  to  know  what  the  enemy  was  doing. 
Companies  A  and  C,  under  Captain  Jones,  went  out  several 
miles.  They  found  a  few  Confederates,  and  were  informed 
by  a  colored  man  that  Jackson's  force  was  in  the  woods 
about  two  miles  beyond.  The  next  day  was  the  Fourth  of 
July.  There  was  some  firing  in  honor  of  the  day.  We 
again  moved  our  camp  a  short  distance  to  accommodate 
some  infantry  regiments. 

General  McClellan  published  the  following  address : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING, 

July  4,  1862. 
Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac: 

Your  achievements  of  the  last  few  days  have  illustrated  the  valor 
and  endurance  of  the  American  soldier.  Attacked  by  superior  forces, 
and  without  hope  of  reinforcements,  you  have  succeeded  in  changing 
your  base  of  operations  by  a  flank  movement,  always  regarded  as  the 
most  hazardous  of  military  expedients.  You  have  saved  all  your 


HARRISON'S  LANDING.  155 

material,  all  your  trains,  and  all  your  guns  except  a  few  lost  in  battle, 
and  have  taken  in  return  guns  and  colors  from  the  enemy.  Upon 
your  march  you  have  been  assailed  day  after  day,  with  desperate  fury, 
by  men  of  the  same  race  and  nation,  skilfully  massed  and  led.  Under 
every  disadvantage  of  numbers,  and  necessarily  of  position  also,  you 
have  in  every  conflict  beaten  back  your  foes  with  enormous  slaughter. 
Your  conduct  ranks  you  among  the  celebrated  armies  of  history.  No 
one  will  now  question  that  each  of  you  may  always  with  pride  say, — 
"I  belonged  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac."  You  have  reached  the 
new  base,  complete  in  organization  and  unimpaired  in  spirit.  The 
enemy  may  at  any  time  attack  you.  We  are  prepared  to  meet  them.  I 
have  personally  established  your  lines.  Let  them  come,  and  we  will 
convert  their  repulse  into  a  final  defeat. 

Your  government  is  strengthening  you  with  the  resources  of  a 
great  people.  On  this,  our  nation's  birthday,  we  declare  to  our  foes 
who  are  rebels  against  the  best  interests  of  mankind,  that  this  army 
shall  enter  the  capital  of  their  so-called  confederacy;  that  our  national 
constitution  shall  prevail,  and  that  the  Union  which  can  alone  insure 
internal  peace  and  external  security  to  each  state,  "must  and  shall  be 
preserved,"  cost  what  it  may  in  time,  treasure  and  blood. 

GEORGE  B.  MCCLELLAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 

The  8th,  President  Lincoln  visited  the  camp  and  at 
evening  dress  parade  reviewed  the  different  corps.  The 
failure  of  this  campaign  must  have  been  a  severe  disappoint 
ment  to  him  after  the  promises  made  in  McClellan's  ad 
dress  of  the  1 4th  of  March  at  Fairfax  Court  House. 

There  was  now  to  succeed  a  period  of  inactivity.  In 
order  to  accomplish  anything  further  McClellan  asked  for 
100,000  more  men.  In  some  of  his  private  correspondence 
he  said : — "I  have  no  faith  in  the  administration."  "I  am 
tired  of  serving  fools."  The  officials  at  Washington  were 
"a  mighty  trifling  set."  'The  dolts  at  Washington—  It 
would  seem  that  he  felt  some  chagrin  over  the  result  of  the 
campaign  in  which,  against  the  better  judgment  of  the  Pres 
ident,  he  had  been  allowed  to  have  his  own  way. 

The  9th  the  regiment  moved  camp  to  an  open  field 


156  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

sloping  away  from  the  river  bank.  It  was  near  the  river 
and  between  the  landing  and  Westower. 

McClellan's  headquarters  were  at  Berkley.  This  place 
was  settled  in  1619  by  a  colony  that  came  from  Bristol, 
England.  The  large  estate  finally  became  the  property  of 
Colonel  Benjamin  Harrison  whose  son  of  the  same  name 
was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  In  this 
house  was  born  Wm.  H.  Harrison,  who,  in  1840,  was  elected 
President  of  the  United  States. 

Westover  was  an  estate  of  eight  thousand  acres,  set 
tled  in  1619  by  the  Wests,  the  family  of  Lord  Delaware. 
West  Point  was  named  from  this  family. 

It  was  here  that  Cornwallis  crossed  to  the  north  side 
of  the  river  in  1781 ;  and  here  in  1864,  Grant  crossed  to  the 
south  side.  Westover  was  now  the  headquarters  of  Gen 
eral  Porter,  and  many  other  officers  occupied  apartments 
here.  About  five  miles  below  was  Sherwood,  the  home  of 
President  John  Tyler.  Many  other  places  of  interest  were 
in  the  country  round  about,  with  which  we  became  ac 
quainted  on  our  various  scouts. 

Westover  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Pawletts,  and 
afterward  into  the  possession  of  the  Byrds,  who  built  the 
stately,  red  brick  mansion,  long  during  colonial  times  known 
for  its  hospitality.  Here  \vas  gathered  the  finest  library  on 
the  continent.  Here  the  most  noted  statesmen  and  scholars  of 
the  times  were  guests.  Here  Benedict  Arnold,  command 
ing  a  British  brigade,  while  making  his  raid  in  Virginia, 
made  his  headquarters. 

The  severe  service  through  which  they  had  passed  con 
vinced  many  of  the  officers  that  a  military  life  was  not  quite 
to  their  liking.  They  offered  their  resignations.  Some 
enlisted  men  feeling  the  same  way,  not  having  the  privilege 
of  resigning,  applied  for  their  discharge.  These  applica 
tions  could  only  be  granted  on  the  surgeon's  certificate  of 


HARRISON^S  LANDING.  157 

disability.  In  a  very  few  instances  homesick  boys  would 
inflict  light  wounds  upon  themselves,  hoping  thereby  to  get 
a  discharge.  But  generally  the  men  had  entered  the  service 
with  the  honest  purpose  of  helping  to  put  down  the  rebel 
lion,  and  they  proposed  to  stay  until  the  job  should  be 
finished. 

The  vacancies  made  by  the  resignations  of  officers 
were  generally  filled  by  promotions  of  worthy  men  from  the 
ranks.  But  in  some  instances  young  fellows  from  civil  life 
were  appointed,  whose  friends  had  influence  with  those  in 
high  positions.  The  style  assumed  by  some  of  these  fellows 
was  amusing. 

Two  of  them,  wishing  to  go  outside  the  lines,  directed 
a  cavalryman  to  go  with  them.  He,  supposing  they  had 
authority,  followed  them.  Their  objective  point  proved  to 
be  the  house  of  a  farmer.  It  happened  to  be  the  noon  hour 
and  an  abundant  dinner  of  fricasseed  chicken  with  potatoes, 
bread  and  butter,  and  pitchers  of  milk,  was  on  the  ample 
table.  The  hospitable  man  invited  the  young  officers  to 
dinner,  and  then  turning  to  the  cavalryman,  said : — "You 
come  in,  too."  That  dinner  was  such  a  change  from  hard 
tack  and  salt  pork,  that  the  soldier  accepted  the  invitation. 
While  he  was  in  the  act  of  taking  a  seat  at  the  table  one  of 
the  young  fellows  said  to  him : — "Orderly,  you  just  stay 
outside  till  we  get  through."  The  orderly  rose  from  the 
table  and  went  outside  and  waited  there.  After  leisurely 
eating  their  dinner  the  officers  came  out,  when  one  of  them 
said : — "Orderly,  you  can  come  in  and  eat  your  dinner  now." 
Somewhat  to  their  astonishment  he  replied : — "Thank  you, 
but  if  I  am  not  permitted  to  accept  the  invitation  of  the  pro 
prietor  of  the  house,  I  don't  think  I  shall  accept  yours.  You 
are  taking  too  much  upon  yourself  to  decide  who  shall,  and 
who  shall  not,  eat  at  your  host's  table."  In  a  towering  rage 
the  other  replied: — "It  is  against  all  regulations  at  West 


158  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Point  for  an  officer  to  eat  at  the  same  table  with  a  common 
soldier,  and  if  you  give  me  any  of  your  insolence  I'll  tie  you 
up  by  the  thumbs."  The  soldier,  who  was  larger  and 
stronger  than  either  of  the  dapper  little  officers,  retorted : — 
"Come  on  and  begin  tying  me  up  by  the  thumbs.  I  am 
just  waiting  to  be  tied  up  by  the  thumbs.  Why  don't  you 
begin  to  tie  me  up  by  the  thumbs?"  Finally  concluding 
that  their  dignity  was  hardly  a  match  for  his  superior 
strength,  they  told  him  he  could  go  back  to  his  reserve 
picket. 

Riding  leisurely  back  he  passed  through  the  wide  lawn 
of  a  planter's  spacious  residence.  The  hospitable  owner 
was  sitting  on  the  broad  veranda,  and  calling  to  the  soldier, 
invited  him  to  come  up  and  sit  with  him.  The  soldier  did 
as  invited,  when  the  planter  directed  some  luncheon  to  be 
brought  out.  While  the  two  were  sociably  eating  the  lunch 
the  twro  young  officers  came  riding  into  the  grounds  as  if 
they  intended  to  stop,  but  seeing  the  soldier  on  such  friendly 
terms  with  the  proprietor  they  suddenly  turned  their  horses' 
heads  and  rode  away. 

All  through  the  country  where  we  served  on  picket  or 
scouted,  were  pleasant,  spring-watered  farms  and  hospitable 
homes.  Many  pleasant  acquaintances  were  formed. 

On  the  retreat  fromMalvern  Hill,  Colonel  Averell  of  the 
Third  Pennsylvania  cavalry  had  command  of  the  rear  guard. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point  and  a  capable  officer. 
He  was  now  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade  made  up  of 
his  own  regiment,  the  First  New  York,  and  a  regiment  of 
regulars.  Colonel  McReynolds  whose  commission  ante 
dated  that  of  Averell,  very  properly  wrote  to  McClellan, 
protesting  against  this  appointment  of  a  junior  officer  over 
him.  McClellan  replied  that  he  had  good  reasons  for  his 
action,  and  if  McReynolds  did  not  like  it  he  could  resign. 
This  was  not  a  very  courteous  reply,  and  was  somewhat 


HARRISON'S  LANDING.  159 

of  the  character  of  his  dispatch  to  the  secretary  of  war  after 
Games'  Mill,  and  his  remarks  about  the  administration. 
The  colonel  obtained  leave  of  absence  and  went  to  Wash 
ington.  It  was  rumored  that  his  errand  was  to  secure  a 
transfer  of  his  regiment  to  some  other  department. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Von  Schickfuss  was  now  in  com 
mand.  His  strict  discipline  immediately  showed  good 
results. 

The  camp  was  thoroughly  policed  and  in  every  way 
kept  in  the  best  order.  Drills,  inspections  and  reviews  were 
held  daily  under  the  lieutenant  colonel  himself.  These  had 
the  best  effect  and  were  enjoyed  by  the  men.  With  all  his 
strictness  of  discipline  he  was  a  genial  gentleman  as  well  as 
a  thoroughly  trained  soldier. 

We  were  watching  and  waiting  for  news.  General 
Halleck  had  been  placed  in  command  of  all  the  armies. 
General  Pope  had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  Union 
forces  in  Northern  Virginia.  There  were  repeated  rumors 
of  some  corps  of  our  army  moving. 

On  the  3  ist  of  July  Captain  Foster  of  the  gunboat 
Delaware,  noticed  a  number  of  people,  apparently  women, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  Their  actions  seemed  sus 
picious.  He  watched  them  closely  through  his  glass  and 
noticed  that  they  were  making  observations  and  taking 
notes.  He  became  convinced  they  were  Confederate  men 
in  women's  attire,  and  sent  a  few  shells  among  them,  when 
they  quickly  withdrew.  The  captain  was  signalled  to  come 
on  board  Captain  McComb's  flagship.  "What  do  you 
mean,  sir,"  gruffly  demanded  the  captain,  "by  firing  on  those 
women,  sir?"  Foster  mildly  replied, — "They  are  not  wo 
men,  sir,  but  men  in  women's  clothing,  taking  observations 
on  our  camp."  "I  know  better,  sir,  and  don't  let  anything 
of  this  sort  happen  again,  sir." 

That  night  the  camp  was  surprised  by  a  brisk  cannon- 


160  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ading  from  some  batteries  that  the  enemy  had  placed  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  river.  Several  shots  passed  through  the 
camp  of  the  regiment.  One  man  was  wounded.  One  horse 
was  killed  and  several  were  injured.  Chaplain  Charles 
Righly,  who  had  been  discharged  March  i,  but  who  had 
remained  with  the  regiment  during  all  its  travels,  was  sleep 
ing  in  the  tent  of  Major  Adams.  A  shell  passed  through 
the  tent,  just  above  his  head.  There  was  some  excitement, 
but  soon  batteries  were  in  position  and  returning  the  enemy's 
fire.  The  gunboats  made  such  a  lively  response,  that  the 
hostile  batteries  wrere  quickly  withdrawn.  The  next  day 
the  buildings  among  which  the  enemy's  batteries  had  been 
placed  were  burned. 

Captain  Foster  who  had  been  so  severely  reprimanded 
for  firing  upon  a  company  of  "ladies"  was  again  summoned 
on  board  the  flagship  of  Captain  McComb.  That  officer 
said : — "I  wish  to  apologize,  sir,  for  reprimanding  you  yes 
terday,  sir.  You  were  right,  sir,  perfectly  right,  sir,  and 
I  was  wrong.  Come  into  the  cabin  and  have  something, 

sir." 

August  3rd  Colonel  Averell  with  a  considerable  force 
of  cavalry  and  infantry  crossed  the  river  and  searched  the 
country,  bringing  back  several  prisoners. 

The  afternoon  of  the  5th  a  large  detail  went  out  on 
picket,  on  the  Long  Bridge  road,  twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  to 
St.  Mary's  Church.  We  met  Averell  returning-  with  a 
number  of  prisoners.  We  rode  far  into  the  moonlight 
night.  The  place  was  a  pleasant  one,  with  patches  of  ripe 
huckleberries,  and  cows  in  the  pasture,  as  we  found  the  next 
morning.  The  conditions  were  appreciated.  In  the  after 
noon  we  were  ordered  to  go  to  another  part.  We  marched 
a  long  way  over  a  road  new  to  us,  and  passed  over  a  high, 
wide,  level  region,  strewn  with  wrecks  of  wagons  and  skele 
tons  of  horses.  It  was  Glendale  and  Malvern  Hill.  We 


HARRISON'S  LANDING.  161 

moved  back  a  mile  and  a  half  through  the  woods  to  a  Con 
federate  farm  house  belonging  to  a  quartermaster  in  the 
Confederate  army.  This  was  made  headquarters  for  the 
night.  The  captain  in  command  had  a  warm  appreciation 
of  Southern  hospitality.  He  had  frequently  expressed  his 
regret  that  when  he  first  came  to  this  country  from  his 
native  Ireland,  he  had  not  gone  to  the  South  instead  of  the 
North.  He  now  ingratiated  himself  into  the  favor  of  the 
family,  and  secured  for  himself  the  best  bed  in  the  house, 
and  directed  some  of  his  men  to  keep  guard  over  the  prem 
ises  during  the  night.  They  flatly  refused;  not  that  they 
wished  to  see  the  property  injured,  but  they  did  not  like 
his  way  of  seeking  a  soft  couch  and  a  well-cooked  meal  for 
himself,  free  of  cost,  while  they  could  put  up  with  their 
rough  fare  and  stand  guard  during  the  night. 

The  7th  the  detail  returned  to  camp  and  saw  many 
relics  of  the  late  retreat  along  the  line  of  march. 

At  one  o'clock  the  next  morning  four  companies  started 
out  with  some  topographical  engineers.  It  was  a  moonlight 
ride  of  many  miles  before  daylight.  We  crossed  the  Chick- 
ahominy  at  Jones'  bridge,  made  a  wide  detour  through 
Charles  City  Court  House,  and  returned  to  camp  at  ten  in 
the  evening,  after  an  enjoyable  ride  of  more  than  fifty 
miles. 

The  companies  that  had  been  detached  were  ordered 
back  to  the  regiment,  and  on  the  i  ith  all  were  embarked  on 
board  schooners  to  join  Burnside  at  Fredericksburg.  It  was 
surmised  that  this  transfer  was  the  purpose  of  the  colonel's 
visit  to  Washington,  on  account  of  the  promotion  of  Colonel 
Averell  to  the  command  of  the  brigade.  The  times  came 
when  Colonel  McReynolds  commanded  a  brigade,  and  a 
division,  and  proved  himself  competent  in  both  positions. 
Possibly  he  was  better  adapted  to  such  a  command  than  to 
that  of  a  regiment. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
FREDERICKSBURG. 

f  I  ^HE  afternoon  of  the  I2th  the  schooners  were  taken  in 
tow.  We  watched  with  interest  the  fine  old  estates 
along  the  banks  of  the  river.  We  saw  the  old  stone  church 
tower,  all  that  was  left  of  historic  Jamestown.  After  an 
choring  for  the  night,  early  the  next  morning  we  passed 
Newport  News,  and  saw  the  wrecks  of  the  Congress  and 
the  Cumberland,  the  work  of  the  Merrimac  on  the  8th  of 
March.  During  the  day  the  fleet  lay  anchored  off  Fortress 
Monroe.  A  fresh  breeze  over  the  salt  water  was  enjoy 
able.  Those  who  wished  wrent  ashore  and  had  a  closer  look 
at  the  fort. 

We  were  again  taken  in  tow  and  the  afternoon  of  the 
1 5th  we  landed  at  Acquia  Creek,  and  were  to  report  to  Burn- 
side,  who  had  won  fame  on  the  Carolina  coast,  and  was  now 
commanding  at  Fredericksburg. 

After  a  night's  rest  in  an  old  camp,  the  regiment  early 
began  its  march,  about  twelve  miles,  over  a  high  and  not 
very  fertile  country.  Midway  in  the  day's  march  there  was 
a  halt.  The  men  quickly  distributed  themselves  at  their 
ease  along  the  sides  of  the  road.  All  at  once  there  arose 
a  great  cheering  in  the  rear,  increasing  as  the  cause  moved 
forward.  The  cause  was  the  wagon  master,  A.  J.  Merritt, 
familiarly  called  "George."  Some  one  wondered  once  why 
everybody  called  him  "George"  when  his  initials  were  A.  J. 

162 


FREDERICKSBURG.  163 

A  comrade  offered  the  explanation  that  probably  the  full 
name  given  him  in  his  promising  infancy  was  George 
Washington  Andrew  Jackson.  He  was  a  good  fellow. 
He  was  riding  an  immense  mule  at  a  slow  gallop.  With 
all  the  dignity  of  a  major  general  reviewing  his  division,  he 
acknowledged  the  tumultuous  applause  that  greeted  him. 
With  his  "chapeau"  resting  on  his  right  forearm,  he  bowed 
to  right  and  left  as  he  rode  on  between  the  roadside  groups 
shouting  in  recognition  of  his  efficiency  in  being  on  hand 
with  his  train  of  commissary  supplies. 

The  James  river  after  a  heavy  rain  had  been  likened 
to  the  "yellow  Tiber."  We  found  the  Rappahannock  ap 
proaching  a  brick  red. 

The  camp  was  on  high  ground  about  half  a  mile  from 
the  river,  on  the  north  side,  and  partly  overlooking  the 
city.  Far  off  to  the  west  could  be  seen  the  tops  of 
mountains. 

Fredericksburg  was  one  of  the  famed  cities  of  Virginia. 
It  was  laid  out  in  1727  and  was  named  after  Prince  Fred 
erick,  the  son  of  George  II.  In  the  country  around  gold 
had  been  found  in  considerable  quantities.  Iron  furnaces 
had  been  built  in  early  times,  and  it  had  been,  in  many  ways, 
a  noted  place.  The  country  round  about  was  a  pleasant 
one,  with  many  fertile  farms. 

The  camp  of  the  regiment  was  on  the  Washington 
farm.  When  George  was  ten  years  old  his  father  had  come 
here  to  live,  and  here  the  son  passed  his  boyhood  under  the 
strict,  but  judicious  training  of  his  mother,  a  woman  of 
remarkable  character.  In  the  city  was  still  standing  the 
house  in  which  she  lived.  Here  she  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five.  Over  her  grave  was  an  unfinished  monument. 

The  white  people  were  mostly  women  and  children. 
Very  few  white  men  were  seen.  Colored  people  of  all  ages 
were  numerous. 


164  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Heavy  details  were  made  for  picket  and  scouting  duty, 
and  for  orderlies  at  headquarters,  and  for  Colonel  Kings- 
bury  of  the  Eleventh  Connecticut,  provost  marshal.  There 
was  much  hard  riding  for  these  orderlies.  Some  of  these 
orderlies  on  duty  in  the  city  left  their  rations  untouched 
in  their  haversacks,  and  took  their  meals  at  a  restaurant, — 
enjoying  the  luxury  of  eating  at  a  table,  using  earthernware 
dishes,  something  almost  unknown  since  the  regiment  left 
Camp  Kearney. 

Some  more  of  the  officers  here  took  leave  of  the  ser 
vice.  A  strange  thing  it  seemed,  when  one  of  the  ablest 
officers,  a  major,  went  on  a  spree,  and  had  to  be  kept  con 
stantly  under  a  strong  guard,  lest  in  his  frenzy  he  should 
become  dangerous. 

At  times  wild  reports  were  flying  around.  One  day 
the  Confederates  were  said  to  be  in  force  only  a  few  miles 
away. 

Sergeant  Edward  Lake,  a  stalwart  man,  and  a  soldier 
who  never  flinched,  was  sent  with  the  most  of  Company  F 
to  learn  what  truth  there  was  in  these  rumors.  He  went 
out  to  find  the  enemy.  He  kept  going  until  he  came  near 
the  ford  at  Rappahannock  station.  Here  he  learned  that 
a  body  of  the  enemy  was  across  the  river.  He  wanted  to 
see  for  himself.  Between  the  road  on  which  he  had  come 
and  the  river  was  a  high  ridge.  Leaving  a  few  men  to 
hold  the  horses,  he  and  the  rest  climbed  the  ridge,  cau 
tiously  creeping  up  to  the  summit,  and  partially  concealed 
themselves  behind  some  ruined  chimneys;  they  had  a  good 
view  of  what  was  going  on  on  the  other  side. 

On  a  wide  plain  across  the  river  was  the  Confederate 
army,  apparently  just  arrived.  They  judged  that  they  saw 
at  least  sixty  thousand  men.  The  cavalry  were  riding  into 
the  river  to  water  the  horses.  The  river  was  full  of  horses. 
The  distance  from  them  to  the  horsemen  in  the  river  was 


FREDERICKSBURG.  165 

so  short  that  they  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  call  out 
to  them.  Quite  an  animated  but  good  natured  conversa 
tion  was  kept  up  for  a  few  minutes.  They  did  not  expect 
to  get  much  accurate  information  as  to  future  movements, 
and  after  a  little  they  withdrew,  not  having  disturbed  the 
enemy  and  not  having  been  disturbed  by  them. 

Soon  came  reports  of  the  maneuvers  of  the  two  great 
armies  about  Manassas.  We  were  on  the  alert.  The  3Oth 
exciting  reports  of  the  coming  of  the  enemy  caused  orders 
to  be  issued  for  the  calling  in  of  the  pickets  on  all  the  roads. 
One  post  picked  up  effects  and  came  so  quickly  that  there 
was  not  time  to  settle  accounts  with  the  colored  people  who 
had  brought  an  abundance  of  chickens  to  sell. 

Some  of  the  picket  details  were  sent  back  to  deploy 
and  skirmish  with  the  approaching  enemy  and  check  them 
as  much  as  possible,  but  no  enemy  appeared. 

The  3  ist  there  came  reports  of  hard  fighting  and  heavy 
losses  by  Pope's  army.  Orders  came  to  march  to  Acquia 
Creek,  there  to  take  transports  for  Alexandria.  There  were 
various  delays.  Finally  the  wagon  train  was  on  the  way. 
The  railroad  buildings  were  set  on  fire.  At  night  we  left 
for  awhile  this  "sacred  city  of  the  South." 

It  was  a  slow,  all-night  march.  It  was  full  daylight 
of  September  ist  when  we  reached  the  Potomac.  All  that 
day  and  the  next  and  till  noon  of  the  3rd,  the  work  of  load 
ing  on  the  transports  was  going  on.  General  Burnside 
personally  superintended  the  work.  He  evidently  was  an 
official  who  considered  it  a  part  of  his  duty  to  attend  to 
details.  On  the  march  a  wagon  had  got  stuck  in  the  road. 
He  dismounted,  and  calling  others  to  do  the  same,  he  took 
hold  of  the  spokes  of  a  wheel  and  lifted  till  the  wagon 
was  started. 

A  private  soldier  reported  to  him  that  an  officer  had 
appropriated  a  blanket  that  belonged  to  him.  The  gen- 


166  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

eral  took  time  to  investigate  the  matter,  and  finding  the 
charge  of  the  private  correct,  promptly  dismissed  the  offi 
cer  from  the  service. 

Among  the  regimental  baggage  he  chanced  to  notice  a 
large,  easy  rocking  chair  that  one  of  the  officers  had  ob 
tained  at  Fredericksburg,  and  made  a  part  of  the  furnishings 
of  his  tent.  The  general  promptly  eliminated  it  from  the 
stores  to  be  taken  along,  remarking  with  some  emphasis, 
that  we  were  not  going  to  carry  on  war  in  rocking  chairs. 

On  board  the  propeller  Ellen  S.  Terry  we  started  about 
noon  of  the  3rd.  It  was  a  pleasant  ride  up  the  Potomac. 
At  last  we  caught  sight  of  the  top  of  the  dome  of  the  cap- 
itol,  and  watched  it  as  it  loomed  up  higher  and  higher.  At 
dusk  we  reached  Alexandria  and  at  once  disembarked. 

That  night  and  the  4th  we  lay  by  the  side  of  the  road 
just  outside  the  city  toward  the  north. 

The  news  of  the  disasters  at  the  second  Bull  Run  was 
talked  over.  There  seemed  to  be  uncertainty  as  to  the  exact 
whereabouts  of  Lee's  army. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
IN  MARYLAND. 

THE  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  had  been  fought  and  the 
Union  army  had  fallen  back  upon  Washington.  It 
had  been  a  disastrous  campaign.  General  Pope  had  not  met 
the  expectations  of  the  country.  There  were  fears  that  the 
Confederates  might  advance  upon  the  capital.  Colonel 
McReynolds  had  for  years  been  acquainted  with  the  Presi 
dent.  Now,  notwithstanding  he  had  a  personal  grievance 
against  McClellan,  he  felt  that  that  general  had  the  con 
fidence  of  the  army  more  than  any  one  else.  He  took  the 
liberty  to  write  to  the  President  suggesting  the  reappoint- 
ment  of  McClellan  to  the  command  of  the  army.  His  son 
Frank  took  this  letter  to  the  White  House.  Whether  it  had 
any  influence  or  not,  McClellan  was,  September  2,  placed  in 
command.  He  was  heartily  cheered  by  the  men  as  he  rode 
among  them. 

The  morning  of  the  5th  the  regiment  left  Alexandria 
and  marched  along  the  road  that  during  the  winter  before 
had  been  a  familiar  one.  At  Fort  Albany  there  was  a  halt 
for  several  hours,  waiting  for  orders.  Crossed  Long  Bridge 
and  marched  past  the  White  House.  The  stately  mansion 
was  heavily  draped  with  black ;  in  mourning  for  officers  and 
men  who  had  been  killed  in  recent  battles.  Among  these 
were  Generals  Kearney  and  Taylor  of  the  New  Jersey  troops 
— generals  who  had  distinguished  themselves  in  many  a  field. 

167 


168  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  line  of  march  was  through  Georgetown  and  twenty 
miles  to  the  north  through  a  pleasant  country.  Slept  in  the 
open  air  in  a  clover  field  beside  some  woods  near  the  pleasant 
village  of  Rockville.  Marched  the  next  morning  to  the 
vicinity  of  Clarksburg,  reporting  to  General  Pleasanton, 
Large  details  for  pickets  and  scouts  were  called  for.  The 
Confederates  seemed  to  be  a  few  miles  to  the  west  and  mov 
ing  northward.  Some  of  their  stragglers  were  picked  up. 
Sergeant  Haggerty  with  a  small  party  surprised  one  after 
another  and  brought  them  in.  The  Confederates  were  not 
inactive,  and  made  some  trouble  for  scouting  parties.  In 
one  of  these  affairs  Decker  and  Dunn  became  mixed  up  in 
the  fray  and  joined  the  enemy.  Covered  with  dust  they  es 
caped  particular  notice.  Watching  their  chance  they  rode 
back  to  their  own  men.  The  Confederate  flag  floated  for 
a  time  on  the  top  of  Sugar  Loaf  mountain. 

The  8th  Major  Adams  with  five  companies  went  to 
Hyattstown.  There  was  a  strong  picket  placed  to  guard 
the  flank  of  the  column  that  was  moving  on  a  road  a  short 
distance  to  the  west.  The  major  made  a  bold  dash  upon 
the  videttes,  driving  them  back  upon  the  reserve,  and  these 
he  drove  through  the  little  village  and  up  the  hill  beyond. 
It  was  not  well  to  go  too  far  without  a  larger  force.  In  fall 
ing  back  the  major  left  some  pickets  on  the  high  ground  be 
yond  the  town.  About  nine  in  the  evening  a  detail  was 
sent  out  to  relieve  these.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  this  relief 
met  Henry  Wilson.  He  was  hatless  and  somewhat  excited. 
He  had  been  under  a  hot  fire.  He  had  used  up  all  his  am 
munition  and  had  barely  succeeded  in  making  his  escape 
from  a  perilous  situation.  He  cautioned  Sergeant  Beach 
of  the  relief  not  to  go  up  the  hill,  for  a  large  number  of  the 
enemy  were  hiding  in  a  cornfield  by  the  side  of  the  road, 
and  whoever  should  try  to  go  up  the  road  would  be  fired  at 
at  close  range.  Westbrook,  Besley  and  Burd  were  some- 


IN  MARYLAND.  169 

where  up  there  in  the  shade  of  the  woods,  and  could  not  get 
away  from  their  places  of  partial  concealment  without  ex 
posing  themselves  to  the  enemy's  fire. 

Wilson  was  a  trusty  fellow  and  not  likely  to  overesti 
mate  any  danger.  The  sergeant  paid  heed  to  his  advice,  at 
the  same  time  saying  he  must  try  to  get  those  men  out  of 
their  peril.  The  moon,  half  way  up  the  east,  was  throwing 
the  shadow  of  the  \voods  nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  road. 
He  told  his  men  to  go  to  the  right  in  the  shade  of  the  woods. 
He  himself  kept  on  watchfully  in  the  road.  When  he  was 
half  way  up  the  hill  there  came  spiteful  bursts  of  fire  from 
under  the  rail  fence  along  the  standing  corn  on  the  left. 
These  were  all  aimed  at  the  head  of  the  sergeant  riding  alone 
in  the  road.  The  zip,  zip  of  a  dozen  or  more  of  bullets 
seemed  like  a  swarm  of  bumble  bees  whizzing  past  his  head. 
But  the  aim  had  not  been  accurate  and  he  was  unhurt.  He 
and  the  others  took  advantage  of  the  time  before  the  enemy 
could  reload.  By  prompt  and  clever  action  they  all  got 
safely  away.  The  horses  realized  the  situation,  and  while 
their  riders  were  intent  on  watching  the  movements  of  the 
skulking  enemy,  some  of  them  with  their  noses  tossed  off 
the  top  rails  and  jumped  the  fence  on  the  wooded  side  of 
the  road,  the  only  way  of  escape.  Some  of  the  horses  had 
been  hit  in  several  places.  There  was  no  use  in  cavalry 
trying  to  fight  infantry  by  night  in  such  a  situation. 

The  Qth  there  was  skirmishing  at  long  range.  The 
enemy  brought  out  some  artillery  while  Major  Adams  had 
none.  During  the  night  the  enemy  stole  up  through  the 
fields  and  along  the  fences  and  caused  some  annoyance.  The 
loth  they  appeared  in  force — artillery,  cavalry  and  infantry. 
The  major  fell  back  and  took  shelter  on  a  cross  road  behind 
some  woods.  "Their  cavalry  is  in  the  road  just  below,"  re 
ported  Stevenson.  All  were  ready  for  a  charge  if  that  cav 
alry  would  only  come  to  the  cross  road.  But  it  did  not 


170  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

come.  The  major  fell  back  to  Clarksburg,  and  after  a  long- 
moonlight  ride  joined  the  rest  of  the  regiment  at  Barnes- 
ville.  The  nth  the  entire  regiment,  accompanied  by  some 
light  artillery,  scouted  about  the  mouth  of  the  Monocacy, 
taking  a  few  stragglers,  but  learning  little  of  the  movements 
of  Lee  except  that  he  was  moving  north.  The  I2th  we  were 
on  the  march  early.  Recent  rains  had  caused  some  discom 
fort,  but  they  had  laid  the  dust  and  made  more  pleasant 
marching. 

Colonel  McReynolds  was  now  commanding  a  brigade 
made  up  of  his  own  regiment,  the  Eighth  Pennsylvania  cav 
alry  and  a  section  of  Battery  M  of  the  Fifth  U.  S.  artillery. 
The  brigade  passed  through  Hyattstown  and  on  to  Fred 
erick,  about  fifteen  miles,  entering  the  town  on  one  road  at 
the  same  time  that  the  head  of  Burnside's  column  entered 
on  another.  The  Confederate  army  had  passed  on.  A  few 
stragglers  were  picked  up. 

The  Federal  army  had  not  before  seen  such  a  reception 
as  was  here  given  it.  In  every  doorway  and  at  every  win 
dow  were  women  and  young  girls  waving  the  Union  flag 
and  in  every  way  manifesting  the  greatest  joy.  Barbara 
Frietchie  was  here.  Although  the  poet's  story  of  her  de 
fiantly  waving  the  flag  over  the  heads  of  Stonewall  Jackson's 
men  was  not  true,  yet  it  represented  the  loyal  spirit  of  the 
women  of  the  place  as  it  appeared  that  day. 

The  1 3th  the  brigade  marched  to  Emmitsburg,  twenty- 
five  miles,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  if  Lee  was  moving  into 
Pennsylvania.  A  few  wandering  Confederates  wrere  found. 

There  were  officers  who,  at  times,  were  brave  enough, 
but  who,  at  other  times  were  a  little  nervous.  One  such,  a 
captain,  had  left  the  column  and  gone  down  a  lane  to  a 
farmhouse,  partly  hidden  among  trees,  some  distance  from 
the  road.  Soon  he  came  riding  back  in  great  excitement. 
His  hat  was  gone.  His  bushy  hair  was  standing  out  in  all 


IN  MARYLAND.  171 

directions.  One  foot  had  lost  its  stirrup.  As  he  rejoined 
the  column  he  excitedly  shouted — " There  was  a  rebel  down 
there,  but  I  got  away  from  him !"  Lieutenant  Bailey,  bor 
rowing  a  carbine  from  a  man  in  the  ranks  rode  down  the 
lane,  and  he,  too,  quickly  came  back — bringing  the  rebel  with 
him.  The  captain  was  one  of  those  \vho,  after  the  Penin 
sular  campaign,  had  sent  in  his  resignation,  and  he  had  been 
awaiting  notice  of  its  acceptance. 

There  was  a  secession  sentiment  in  Emmitsburg.  Some 
of  the  officers  entering  the  town  in  advance  of  the  column 
were  taken  for  the  foremost  of  Lee's  army.  They  did  not 
correct  the  impression,  and  were  well  treated  by  the  south 
ern  sympathizers.  The  choicest  old  liquors  in  the  cellar 
were  placed  before  them.  The  entertainers  were  somewhat 
chagrined  when  they  saw  the  true  colors  of  the  column. 

After  a  night's  rest,  early  on  the  I4th,  the  brigade  was 
on  the  road.  It  was  Sunday  and  a  pleasant  day.  We  had 
passed  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  and  were  in  the  free  state  of 
Pennsylvania.  Along  the  roadside  people  came  greeting  the 
soldiers  with  baskets  of  fruit  and  pitchers  of  milk,  as  well 
as  with  looks  and  words  of  good  will. 

Before  noon  the  column  was  in  sight  of  Gettysburg. 
The  report  spread  in  the  town  that  the  advance  of  Lee's 
army  was  coming.  In  some  of  the  churches  the  preachers 
dismissed  their  congregations,  advising  the  people  to  go 
quietly  to  their  homes.  It  was  a  great  relief  to  them  when 
they  knew  the  truth.  Old  and  young,  matrons  and  girls, 
made  us  welcome  with  substantial  cheer.  In  a  triangular 
field  in  the  edge  of  the  village  the  men  rested  that  afternoon. 
In  the  evening  many  attended  church  for  the  first  time  in 
many  months.  In  the  Presbyterian  church  the  text  was, 
''Many  are  called,  but  few  are  chosen." 

The  forenoon  of  the  I5th  horses  were  shod,  and  many 
necessary  repairs  and  mendings  for  which  our  continual 


172  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

moving  had  left  no  leisure,  received  attention.  It  did  not 
occur  to  any  one  that  in  less  than  a  year  the  field  and  hills 
around  this  peaceful  town  would  be  the  scene  of  a  desperate, 
three  days'  battle.  The  afternoon  the  brigade  marched  back 
to  Emmitsburg.  The  i6th,  at  Frederick  again.  Oh  the 
way  we  had  met  hundreds  of  the  ten  thousand  who  had  been 
surrendered  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  paroled,  and  who  were 
now  walking  homeward.  The  Eighth  N.  Y.  cavalry  had 
refused  to  be  surrendered  and  had  cut  its  way  out  along  the 
Maryland  side,  and  on  its  way  had  captured  part  of  a  Con 
federate  wagon  train. 

Late  in  the  morning  of  the  I7th  the  brigade  was  on  the 
road  toward  the  mountains  from  beyond  which  there  came 
the  continuous  roar  of  battle.  At  Middletown,  halted  an 
hour  at  noon.  Here  the  churches  and  all  other  available 
buildings  were  filled  with  the  wounded  from  South  Moun 
tain.  The  battle  had  been  fought  on  the  I4th. 

Wounded  men  and  boys  able  to  walk  were  wearily 
working  their  way  along  the  road  toward  Frederick.  Trains 
were  going  back  for  supplies.  Dead  horses  and  mules  were 
here  and  there  lying  by  the  roadside,  as  we  passed  along  up 
and  over  the  mountain. 

The  roar  of  the  distant  battle  was  incessant;  the  low, 
subdued,  blended  noise  of  mingled  small  arms,  with  the  fre 
quent  heavier  bursts  of  cannon.  We  had  hurried  along  up 
the  ascent  of  the  mountain,  expecting  from  the  top  to  look 
down  upon  the  field  with  its  contending  armies.  But  the 
road  wound  down  the  mountain  side  in  such  a  way  that  we 
could  not  see  the  battle  from  which  came  that  continual 
muffled  roar. 

At  dusk  we  reached  Boonsboro.  The  fighting  had 
ceased.  We  slept  soundly  within  three  or  four  miles  of  the 
field.  The  i8th  the  command  lay  still.  There  was  no  fight 
ing.  It  was  said  that  both  armies  were  resting  with  white 


IN  MARYLAND.  173 

flags  all  along  their  lines  while  parties  were  burying  the  dead 
and  caring  for  the  wounded.  Some  of  the  men  rode  out 
over  parts  of  the  field.  They  saw  the  sunken  road  filled 
with  the  slain. 

The  i  Qth  the  entire  regiment  marched  out  on  the  field. 
The  dead  men  had  been  buried,  but  there  were  many  dead 
horses  swollen  to  an  immense  size.  Many  troops  were  on 
the  field,  massed  in  solid  squares  ready  to  renew  the  battle. 
But  Lee  had  crossed  the  river. 

At  night  the  regiment  returned  to  Boonsboro.  There 
was  intense  disappointment  over  Lee's  escape.  There  was 
a  general  feeling  that  with  his  losses  and  our  reinforcements, 
McClellan's  army  was  greatly  superior  to  Lee's,  and  that 
McClellan  had  not  made  the  most  of  the  situation. 

Charles  R.  Peterson  of  Company  B  had  a  brother,  Lieut. 
Pierson  B.  Peterson,  adjutant  of  the  Seventy-eighth  N.  Y., 
one  of  the  new  regiments  that  had  just  come  to  the  front. 
He  learned  that  this  regiment  had  been  engaged  in  the  battle. 
In  his  search  for  the  regiment  he  heard  that  his  brother  had 
been  wounded.  Anxiously  he  continued  his  search.  The 
morning  of  the  2Oth  the  regiment  began  its  march.  In 
some  woods  along  the  roadside  near  Keedysville  many  hos 
pital  tents  had  been  set  up.  In  front  of  one  of  these  was  a 
hospital  nurse  inquiring  for  Peterson  of  Company  B,  saying 
that  his  brother  was  lying  in  the  tent,  his  leg  having  been 
amputated.  The  younger  Peterson  was  absent  from  the 
ranks  still  engaged  in  his  tireless  search.  A  man  of  the 
company  was  directed  to  remain  here,  to  tell  Peterson,  when 
he  should  find  him,  that  he  could  stay  and  take  care  of  his 
brother.  This  was  a  considerate  act  on  the  part  of  Colonel 
McReynolds.  The  wounded  lieutenant  was  tenderly  cared 
for,  but  he  slowly  failed.  Finally  after  a  period  of  delirium 
in  which  he  seemed  to  be  again  in  the  front  of  the  battle, 


174  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

giving  orders  for  the  line  to  stand  firm,  and  then  to  move 
forward,  he  passed  away. 

The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Buffalo,  where  he  had  lived  for  a 
few  years,  thoroughly  respected  for  his  active  life  and  Chris 
tian  character,  asked  that  he  might  be  brought  to  that  city. 
After  impressive  services  here  he  was  taken  to  his  parents' 
home  at  Canoga,  N.  Y.,  and  laid  to  rest  amid  the  scenes  of 
his  early  years.  For  the  first  time  the  dread  realities  of  war 
were  brought  home  to  this  peaceful  community. 

This  sad  meeting  of  brothers  after  the  battle  was  one 
of  many  similar  incidents  of  the  war. 

The  regiment  marched  to  Downsville.  Lieutenant 
Hinton  was  sent  out  with  his  company  to  ascertain  if  any 
of  the  enemy  were  in  Williamsport.  As  his  advance  came 
to  the  top  of  a  hill  they  were  greeted  with  several  shells 
from  a  Confederate  battery.  He  returned  and  reported, 
when  a  section  of  artillery  with  a  cavalry  support  went  out 
under  Major  Adams  to  learn  the  enemy's  strength.  It  was 
now  near  night. 

There  was  some  hesitation  as  to  what  should  be  done. 
It  was  finally  decided  to  throw  in  a  few  shells.  The  enemy 
replied  with  vigor.  The  cavalry  supports  were  left  in  the 
narrow  road  directly  behind  the  guns.  The  erfemy  had  the 
range  exactly,  and  their  shells  bursting  in  the  darkness  above 
and  around  were  trying  to  the  nerves.  The  major  was 
perplexed.  He  finally  asked  Captain  Jones  what  he  had 
better  do.  The  latter  replied,  "Either  charge  upon  them  at 
once  or  else  withdraw.  At  least,  don't  keep  the  cavalry 
under  fire  in  the  narrow  road  where  they  can't  do  anything." 
The  major  had  long  been  credited  with  having  a  vivid 
imagination.  He  could  imagine  brilliant  exploits  with  him 
self  in  the  fore  front,  but  he  did  not  know  exactly  how  to  do 
the  deeds.  After  an  hour  or  so  of  this  fighting  in  the  dark 


IN  MARYLAND.  175 

the  guns  and  the  supports  were  withdrawn.  The  "brilliant 
charge"  that  was  reported  had  not  been  made. 

Sergeant  Charles  Robinson  of  Company  A,  and  Private 
Hugh  McLaughlin  of  C  were  wounded.  The  sergeant  died 
of  his  wounds. 

During  the  night  the  enemy  withdrew  across  the  river, 
and  in  the  morning  our  cavalry  entered  the  place  without 
opposition.  The  enemy  had  been  ready  to  retire  in  haste 
the  night  before  if  a  vigorous  advance  had  been  made.  The 
"brilliant  charge"  had  been  among  the  possibilities  not 
realized. 

The  second  battalion  was  sent  to  picket  along  the  river 
in  the  vicinity  of  Dam  No.  4.  The  Confederate  pickets 
were  along  the  opposite  bank.  The  Eighth  Pennsylvania 
and  the  regular  artillery  were  ordered  back  to  the  main 
army.  The  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  and  the  First  New  York 
were  ordered  to  report  to  General  Kelly  at  Cumberland. 

Before  sunrise  of  the  23rd  they  were  well  on  their  way. 
For  a  distance  the  march  was  through  a  broken,  but  fertile 
limestone  region.  Beyond  this  was  a  rougher,  slaty  one. 
In  crossing  a  ridge  of  the  North  Mountain  at  Fairview  we 
had  a  magnificent  prospect  over  the  great  Valley  of  Virginia, 
twenty-five  miles  wide  from  North  Mountain  on  the  west 
to  the  Blue  Ridge  on  the  east,  and  to  the  south  forty  miles 
or  more  to  the  bold  front  of  the  Massanutten  Mountain. 
This  was  the  wide  field  of  campaigns  yet  to  be.  By  night 
we  reached  Hancock,  twenty-two  miles.  Much  of  the  way 
the  road  was  along  the  bank  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  Chesa 
peake  and  Ohio  canal.  After  a  good  rain  during  the  night 
the  next  day's  march  was  cool  and  pleasant.  We  were 
among  the  mountains.  Pine  Grove,  sixteen  miles,  was  the 
halting  place  for  the  night.  Very  early  the  next  morning 
we  were  on  the  road,  the  famous  Cumberland  turnpike,  well 
made,  but  through  a  rough  country.  Fourteen  miles  were 


176  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

made  before  breakfast.  Then,  at  Flintstone  we  ate  both 
breakfast  and  dinner.  A  further  march  of  twelve  miles 
brought  us  to  Cumberland,  a  hospitable  place  of  eight  thou 
sand,  in  a  pocket  of  the  mountains,  the  prosperous  center  of 
an  extensive  coal  region. 

Horses  had  to  be  shod.  In  coming  down  so  many  hills 
the  wagon  wheels  had  to  be  chained,  and  the  tires  had  be 
come  so  worn  that  the  wheels  had  to  be  re-tired. 

The  work  of  the  cavalry  was  to  protect  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad  from  ranging  bands  of  a  somewhat  irregu 
lar  soldiery  among  the  mountains  to  the  south  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Imboden. 

Company  B  was  left  in  the  town  as  a  provost  guard. 
The  rest  of  the  brigade  on  the  27th  crossed  the  river  and 
went  south  as  far  as  Mill  Creek  Junction,  and  thence  to 
New  Creek  (now  Keyser),  a  point  on  the  river  and  railroad 
a  day's  march  west  of  Cumberland. 


Courtesy  of  D.  B.  Martin,  B.  &  O.  It.  K. 
THE   HEART  OF  THE  ALLEGHANIES. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

COLONEL  McREYNOLDS  was  commanding  the 
V_  brigade  with  headquarters  at  Oldtown,  on  the  Mary 
land  side  of  the  river,  twelve  miles  below  Cumberland.  Lieut. 
Col.  von  Schickfuss,  with  headquarters  at  the  same  place, 
was  commanding  the  regiment.  Stevenson  was  adjutant. 
General  Kelly  had  about  three  thousand  infantry  and  artil- 
lary  distributed  along  the  line  of  the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  The 
cavalry  was  to  aid  in  the  defense  of  this  line  by  holding  posi 
tions  about  ten  miles  to  the  south.  Springfield  was  to  be  one 
of  these  posts.  Here  Captain  Boyd  was  sent  with  four  com 
panies.  Pickets  were  to  be  established  on  the  roads  leading 
from  the  town,  and  scouts  were  to  be  sent  out  to  keep  watch 
of  Imboden's  mounted  rangers. 

From  here,  October  2nd,  Captain  Battersby  of  B  and 
Lieutenant  Lewis  of  F,  with  parts  of  their  companies,  went 
out  to  look  through  the  country.  At  Romney,  eight  miles, 
Sergeant  Baughan,  whose  knee  had  been  injured  by  the 
stumbling  of  his  horse,  and  three  others,  were  left  to  hold 
the  place.  The  rest  went  on  beyond  Burnt  Mills,  ten  miles. 
Here  were  two  roads.  The  captain  took  the  pike,  which 
led  to  the  right,  the  lieutenant  taking  the  left.  It  was  ar 
ranged  that  the  party  returning  first  should  place  some  sticks 
in  the  road  to  indicate  the  fact.  Lewis  returned  first.  From 
the  position  of  the  sticks  he  concluded  that  the  captain  had 


177 


178  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

preceded  him,  and  he  passed  on  to  Romney,  intending  to  stay 
there  that  night.  Horses  were  unsaddled,  when  some  of 
the  captain's  men  were  seen  coming  in  haste  as  if  fleeing 
from  an  enemy.  Horses  were  quickly  saddled  again.  The 
representations  of  these  fugitives  as  to  the  force  of  the  Con 
federates  behind  them  induced  Lewis,  after  doing  all  he 
could  to  aid  such  of  the  captain's  men  as  might  come  in,  to 
move  on  toward  Springfield. 

The  captain  had  taken  the  pike.  Westbrook,  Valentine 
and  the  two  Peaveys  ( father  and  son )  and  Dougherty,  were 
in  the  advance.  Several  miles  from  the  fork  in  the  road 
they  caught  sight  of  some  videttes  and  at  once  gave  chase. 
The  advance  was  increased  by  some  others  who  had  come 
forward,  when  they  drove  the  enemy  across  a  bridge  and 
into  Blue  Gap.  The  Confederates  took  shelter  around  a 
spur  of  a  mountain. 

Each  party  was  uncertain  as  to  the  strength  of  the 
other.  The  advance  hesitated;  they  had  no  orders.  Word 
was  sent  back  to  the  captain,  but  he  clicl  not  come  forward 
to  take  charge.  Finally  the  men  were  called  back,  when  the 
captain  led  the  entire  party  to  what  he  considered  a  safe 
distance,  and  stopped  to  eat  lunch. 

While  they  were  leisurely  eating  their  dinner  some  of 
the  Confederates  were  observed  in  the  distance  cautiously 
coming  on.  The  captain  thinking  it  was  too  large  a  force 
for  him  to  fight,  directed  the  men  to  fall  back,  himself  tak 
ing  the  lead.  A  bold  attack  would  have  driven  the  enemy 
back  as  the  advance  had  driven  them  in  the  first  instance,  and 
secured  time  for  a  safe  retreat.  But  the  enemy  gained 
courage.  It  soon  became  a  rapid  retreat  and  a  hot  pursuit. 
There  was  no  halting  at  the  fork  of  the  road.  Some  of  the 
horses  began  to  show  signs  of  failing.  Their  riders  left 
them  and  took  to  the  wooded  hillsides.  By  crossing  a  ridge 
they  saved  a  mile  or  more,  as  the  road  doubled  around  the 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  179 

end  of  the  ridge.  James  I.  Gleeson,  seeing  that  his  horse 
was  giving  out,  jumped  off  and  made  for  the  road  side  fence. 
In  his  efforts  to  hurry  over  the  fence  his  scabbard  caught 
between  the  rails  and  held  him  back.  His  pursuers  were 
abreast  of  him  and  called  to  him  to  surrender.  He  pluckily 
shouted  back,  "I  don't  see  it,  just  yet!"  Unclasping  his 
sabre  belt  he  jumped  out  of  it,  sprang  into  the  woods  and 
escaped,  amid  a  small  shower  of  bullets  sent  after  him.  Of 
fifteen  who  left  their  horses  and  took  to  the  woods  all  but 
five  found  their  way  back  to  Springfield.  All  of  them,  like 
Gleeson,  had  narrow  escapes. 

A  year  before,  from  a  lot  of  condemned  animals,  the 
captain  had  picked  out  a  large-framed,  long-geared,  steep- 
rumped  black  horse.  He  thought  he  saw  some  good  points 
in  him.  He  adopted  him  and  nursed  him  up  into  an  ap 
parently  fair  condition.  This  horse  he  was  riding  on  this 
scout.  But  under  the  strain  of  the  pursuit  the  revised  edi 
tion  of  the  horse's  strength  was  fast  being  exhausted.  Fore 
most  at  starting,  the  captain  was  now  the  hindmost  of  all 
that  remained.  Reaching  the  top  of  a  hill  and  seeing  that 
his  horse  was  ''played  out,"  he  stopped  in  the  middle  of  the 
road  and  dismounted.  Tall,  erect  as  a  mountain  pine,  he 
waited  by  the  side  of  his  steed  that  stood  with  drooping  head 
and  panting  flanks.  Captain  McVeil,  commanding  the  pur 
suers,  came  on  cautiously  at  first,  but  finally  without  fear. 
The  Federal  captain  asked  him  the  date  of  his  commission. 
When  informed  he  replied  that  as  his  own  commission  ante 
dated  that  of  his  captor,  he  was  the  ranking  officer  and  en 
titled  to  take  command. 

The  Confederates  were  delighted  with  their  success. 
The  prisoners  were  taken  to  Winchester,  nearly  forty  miles. 
The  captain's  horse  was  taken  from  him  and  with  the  others 
he  was  obliged  to  walk.  He  asked  that  he  might  be  allowed 
to  keep  his  wide-bladed  sabre  that  had  seen  service  for  gen- 


180  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

erations  of  his  ancestors  in  the  British  army.  Stonewall 
Jackson,  before  whom  he  was  taken  at  Winchester,  granted 
his  request  on  condition  that  the  sabre  should  not  be  used 
again  in  this  war.  The  prisoners  were  paroled,  and  a  few 
weeks  later  were  exchanged.  The  affair  was  freely  dis 
cussed,  of  course.  It  was  the  general  opinion,  and  the  opin 
ion  was  justified  by  what  they  did  on  many  occasions  after 
ward,  that  any  of  the  men  who  were  on  the  advance  could 
have  managed  matters  successfully. 

Companies  D  and  K  were  now  added  to  those  at  Spring 
field.  These  were  under  the  command  of  Bailey,  late  quarter 
master,  now  captain  of  K.  October  3rd  all  these  companies, 
taking  three  days'  rations,  went  out,  under  Captain  Boyd,  to 
look  for  the  enemy  who,  naturally,  would  be  more  daring 
after  their  recent  success.  The  march  over  the  steep  moun 
tain  roads  was  a  tedious  one.  On  the  second  day  they  struck 
the  trail  of  a  force  that  had  been  moving  toward  Spring 
field,  but  had  changed  its  course.  With  Sergeant  E.  C. 
Wratkins  of  K  and  fifteen  men  in  the  advance  the  command 
moved  rapidly  on.  Captain  Bailey  with  a  detachment  fol 
lowed  the  advance  closely.  Some  distance  ahead  of  the  main 
body,  on  a  mountain  ridge  overlooking  the  Capon  river, 
Watkins  came  upon  three  mounted  videttes.  These  fired 
their  carbines  and  fled.  Watkins  knew  the  character  of  the 
men  just  behind  him,  and  without  an  instant's  hesitation 
dashed  on  after  the  fleeing  Confederates.  Bailey  and  his 
men,  hearing  the  firing,  hurried  forward  as  fast  as  their 
horses  could  carry  them.  Other  Confederates  who  had  been 
stationed  at  intervals  along  the  way  joined  their  comrades, 
with  their  pursuers  after  them  at  breakneck  speed  down  the 
mountain  road.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountain  they  found 
themselves  close  to  the  river.  Across  the  river  in  plain  sight, 
on  a  narrow  stretch  of  bottom  land,  was  the  camp  of  Im- 
boden's  men.  The  river  \vas  spanned  by  a  covered  wooden 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  181 

bridge.  Through  this  the  rebel  pickets  fled  with  Watkins 
and  his  men  right  upon  them  and  Bailey's  men  doing  their 
best  to  get  to  the  front.  Every  man  was  striving  to  be  fore 
most,  and  although  ordered  to  "steady  up/'  they  all  rushed 
at  the  top  of  their  speed  through  the  bridge,  that  swayed 
and  rocked  till  it  seemed  as  if  it  would  go  down  under  them. 
On  coming  out  at  the  farther  end  they  noticed  two  small 
cannons  placed  in  the  road  so  as  to  sweep  the  bridge.  The 
gunners  were  standing  ready  to  fire,  but  they  had  waited 
until  their  own  men  could  get  across.  They  were  now  seen 
trying  to  apply  the  match;  before  they  could  do  anything 
more  the  Union  cavalrymen  with  ringing  shouts  had  ridden 
over  and  past  the  guns  and  gunners  and  were  in  posession 
of  the  camp. 

Such  had  been  the  suddenness  and  vigor  of  the  charge 
that  the  Confederates  had  fired  but  few  shots.  They  threw 
down  their  arms  and  surrendered.  Before  Captain  Boyd 
and  the  other  companies  had  reached  the  bridge  the  Con 
federates,  a  forlorn  looking  lot  of  men,  were  rounded  up 
and  huddled  together,  ready  to  be  marched  northward  as 
prisoners  of  war.  Three  or  four  had  been  killed  and  several 
wounded.  Quite  a  number  had  slipped  into  the  woods  on  the 
hillsides  and  got  away.  The  loss  in  the  regiment  was  one 
man  wounded  and  one  horse  killed.  The  spoils  were  a  dozen 
wagons  loaded  with  new  supplies — clothing,  blankets,  quilts, 
camp  equipage,  many  horses  and  mules,  and  the  two  guns, 
mountain  howitzers,  made  to  be  carried  on  pack  saddles  on 
the  backs  of  mules — "jackass  artillery"  as  Jack  Baughan 
named  them.  The  prisoners  numbered  about  thirty.  Among 
them  were  a  major  and  two  lieutenants. 

Capon  bridge,  the  place  where  this  occurred,  was  about 
twenty- four  miles  from  Romney.  It  confirmed  the  conviction 
felt  at  Pohick  Church  and  Sangster's  station,  that  in  cavalry 
fighting  the  party  that  could  "get  on  the  move"  first  had 


182  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

greatly  the  advantage,  and  that  the  most  effective  weapon 
in  such  a  charge  was  the  sabre.  Many  a  time  in  later  cam 
paigns  did  the  men  remember  this,  and  they  won  the  fight  by 
the  very  recklessness  of  their  attack,  and  their  losses  were, 
in  consequence,  comparatively  small.  Several  of  those  in 
this  charge  won  distinction  afterwards.  One  of  the  fore 
most  in  the  advance  was  Edwin  F.  Savacool,  whose  daring 
deeds  will  make  a  large  part  of  this  story. 

At  the  time  of  this  attack  Imboden,  with  a  large  party, 
elated  by  the  success  at  Blue  Gap,  had  gone  on  an  expedition 
looking  for  more  captures.  From  papers  captured  it  was 
found  that  he  had  authority  from  Richmond  to  recruit  a 
force  for  service  among  the  mountains.  It  was,  in  fact,  to 
be  a  guerrilla  warfare.  His  men  could  remain  at  home  as 
non-combatants,  and  he  could  call  them  out  at  any  time  for 
any  enterprise  that  he  might  plan.  They  would  roam 
through  the  country  singly  or  in  small  bands,  watching  for 
a  chance  to  make  captures.  They  would  keep  well  informed 
on  all  the  movements  of  the  Union  forces. 

One  of  the  papers  captured  read : 

"My  purpose  is  to  wage  the  most  active  warfare  against  our  brutal 
invaders  and  their  domestic  allies ;  to  hang  about  their  camps  and  shoot 
down  every  sentinel,  picket,  courier  and  wagon  driver  we  can  find ;  to 
watch  opportunities  for  attacking  convoys  and  forage  trains.  *  *  *  * 
Our  own  Virginia  traitors — men  of  the  Pierpont  and  Carlisle  stamp — 
will  receive  our  special  regards.  *  *  *  *  It  is  only  men  I  want ;  men 
who  will  pull  trigger  on  a  Yankee  with  as  much  alacrity  as  they  would 
on  a  mad  dog;  men  whose  consciences  won't  be  disturbed  by  the  sight 
of  a  vandal  carcass.  I  don't  want  nervous,  squeamish  individuals  to 
join  me — they  will  be  safer  at  home." 

From  other  papers  captured  it  was  learned  that  he  then 
had  916  officers  and  enlisted  men,  part  of  them  mounted,  the 
rest  to  act  on  foot. 

A  facetious  young  woman  handed  to  Captain  Bailey, 
when  he  was  starting  out,  a  letter  to  Imboden,  requesting 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  183 

him  to  treat  her  friend  kindly  when  he  should  hold  him  a 
prisoner,  as  "he  was  not  as  bad  as  the  most  of  them."  It 
was  something  of  a  disappointment  to  her  when  the  captain 
brought  back  from  the  captured  camp  a  mass  of  papers  and 
a  silk  flag  that  she  had  presented  to  the  guerrilla  chief.  Im- 
boden's  private  papers  were  returned  to  him. 

The  First  New  York  was  to  guard  the  railroad  from 
Oldtown  to  Cherry  Run;  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  from 
Cherry  Run  eastward.  About  five  miles  below  Oldtown  the 
South  Branch  flows  into  the  Potomac.  Here  was  a  strong 
post  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge.  Several  miles  farther 
down  was  Paw  Paw  tunnel.  Here  was  another  post.  At 
Springfield,  ten  miles  south  of  Green  Spring,  across  the  river 
from  Oldtown,  Companies  B,  F  and  M  were  stationed.  Cap 
tain  Bennett  was  in  command.  Hinton  was  adjutant  and 
Beach  was  sergeant  major.  It  was  an  old,  quiet  town,  most 
ly  of  log  houses,  but  having  two  good  churches.  The 
churches  were  appropriated  as  quarters. 

A  picket  post  was  at  a  mill  on  the  South  Branch,  east 
of  the  town;  another  was  south  of  the  town  at  the  chain 
bridge,  and  others  were  on  the  roads  west  and  north.  The 
enemy  were  at  home  in  the  country.  They  knew  all  the 
paths  over  the  mountains,  and  could  creep  up  close  to  the 
pickets,  unobserved,  make  their  attack  and  get  away  safely. 
Several  times  they  captured  sentinels,  took  their  horses  and 
arms,  and  let  the  men  go  free. 

The  night  of  the  2Qth  the  post  at  the  mill  was  attacked 
and  James  Gaddis  of  F  was  killed.  One  of  the  enemy  also 
was  killed.  Several  men  were  held  a  short  time  as  pris 
oners.  The  leader  of  the  attacking  party  expressed  his  re 
gret  at  having  killed  any  one.  He  did  not  want  to  do  it,  but 
our  men  were  to  blame;  they  should  not  have  offered  any 
resistance !  All  he  wanted  was  their  horses  and  arms.  He 
released  his  prisoners  and  retired  with  his  booty. 


184  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Hardly  was  there  a  night  when  there  was  not  some  post 
attacked.  The  report  would  quickly  reach  headquarters 
when  the  command,  "Saddle  up"  would  ring  out  and  half 
the  reserve  would  be  out  on  a  wild  ride  over  the  mountain 
roads.  Such  skulking  attacks  were  so  common  that  con 
stant  vigilance  was  necessary.  Early  one  evening  some  men 
came  to  the  stables  only  a  few  rods  from  one  of  the  churches 
and  succeeded  in  getting  away  with  a  couple  of  horses. 
They  were  seen  as  they  were  almost  across  a  field  and  close 
to  the  woods.  It  was  too  late  to  overtake  them. 

It  was  thought  best  to  strike  Imboden  in  his  camp. 
After  the  fight  at  Capon  bridge  he  had  withdrawn  farther 
south.  General  Kelly  desired  Colonel  McReynolds  to  learn, 
if  possible,  the  location  of  his  camp.  Volunteers  were 
called  for.  Four  men  of  B,  the  two  Peaveys,  Valentine  and 
Dorman,  offered  themselves  for  the  dangerous  attempt. 
They  were  trusty  fellows,  full  of  resources.  The  3Oth  of 
October,  without  any  disguise,  they  set  out.  Beyond  Rom- 
ney  they  crossed  the  mountain  to  the  west  into  the  valley  of 
Patterson  creek  and  took  the  road  toward  Petersburg.  Five 
miles  beyond  Burlington  they  stopped  for  the  night  in  an 
old  barn.  They  barricaded  the  doors  and  made  themselves 
as  safe  as  possible.  They  were  not  disturbed.  The  next 
afternoon  they  rode  along  within  sight  of  a  body  of  mounted 
men.  If  they  were  noticed  at  all  they  were  probably  taken 
for  fellow  Confederates.  They  did  not  seek  a  close  ac 
quaintance  and  were  soon  out  of  reach.  They  watched  the 
enemy,  but  were  not  followed.  That  night  they  stopped  at 
a  Mr.  Seymour's,  five  miles  from  Petersburg.  Cavalry  had 
recently  passed.  They  were  told  that  a  Confederate  force 
was  in  Petersburg.  Later  they  learned  that  this  force  had 
left  the  day  before  for  Moorefield. 

The  work  of  these  scouts  was  risky.  Mr.  Seymour 
suspected  that  they  were  Federals,  and  asked  what  they  were 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  185 

doing  there.  They  replied  that  they  were  the  advance  of  a 
large  force  that  was  coming  behind  them.  It  was  a  long 
way  behind  them.  They  were  now  seventy  miles  from  any 
support. 

A  disabled  horse  was  exchanged  for  a  better  one.  The 
next  day  they  crossed  the  mountain  and  kept  on  their  way 
toward  Moorefield.  Several  times  they  caught  sight  of 
parties  of  mounted  men,  but  they  kept  themselves  in  by 
ways  and  in  the  woods.  At  night  they  found  a  safe  place 
among  the  thick  pines  on  the  mountain.  They  had  to  forage 
the  best  they  could  for  their  horses  and  themselves. 

Here  in  their  place  of  concealment  the  younger  Peavey 
and  Dorman  remained  with  the  horses  while  the  elder 
Peavey  and  Valentine  started  out  on  foot  on  their  perilous 
night  reconnoissance.  Through  the  thick  woods,  over  and 
among  rugged  ledges  of  rock,  up  and  down  the  sides  of 
mountains,  fording  swift,  cold  streams,  they  came  at  last  to 
the  ridge  of  a  precipitous  mountain.  From  this  position 
they  looked  down  into  a  deep  valley.  Here  was  Imboden's 
camp.  The  camp  fires  were  brightly  burning.  They  could 
hear  the  men  talking  in  the  camp  hundreds  of  feet  below. 
They  counted  the  huts  and  made  an  estimate  of  the  numbers. 

Chilled,  tired,  and  foot  sore,  in  the  deep  darkness  they 
retraced  their  rough  and  dangerous  way,  five  miles  or  more, 
to  where  the  others  were  waiting  with  the  horses.  After 
many  adventures  and  narrow  escapes  the  four  daring  men 
reached  their  own  lines  in  safety  on  the  2nd  of  November. 

Sergeant  Peavey  reported  to  General  Kelly  at  Cumber 
land,  and  an  attack  on  the  discovered  camp  was  planned. 
The  morning  of  the  8th  Colonel  McReynolds  set  out  with 
three  hundred  and  fifty  of  his  own  regiment.  It  was  cold 
and  snow  was  falling.  At  Mill  Creek  Junction  near  night 
this  column  was  joined  by  another  that  had  come  from  New 
Creek.  This  force  consisted  of  two  hundred  of  Ringgold's 


186  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Pennsylvania  cavalry,  as  many  more  of  the  Twenty-third 
Illinois  infantry  riding  in  ambulances  and  light  wagons,  and 
a  section  of  artillery. 

The  entire  force  moved  on  as  rapidly  as  possible  and 
shortly  after  midnight  reached  Moorefield.  After  a  short 
halt  the  march  was  continued.  The  way  was  up  the  South 
Fork.  Sometimes  it  was  in  the  rocky  bed  of  the  stream,  or 
crossing  it  time  after  time.  By  daybreak  the  advance  struck 
the  enemy's  pickets  and  soon  the  command  was  in  front  of 
the  camp.  But  Imboden  had  received  a  brief  notice  of  our 
coming  and  had  hastily  withdrawn  with  such  of  his  com 
mand  as  he  could  get  away. 

The  place  was  known  as  Lockwood's  Gap,  a  deep,  nar 
row  valley  of  the  South  Fork.  On  either  side  was  a  pre 
cipitous  mountain  ridge,  each  parallel  to,  and  facing  the 
other.  The  mountain  faces  were  so  steep  that  it  would  be 
very  difficult  for  one  using  hands  as  well  as  feet,  to  climb 
them.  The  valley  was  three  or  four  hundred  feet  wide  and 
perhaps  half  a  mile  long.  Here  was  the  very  comfortable 
winter  camp  of  log  huts. 

Skirmishing  parties  were  quickly  thrown  forward  and 
detachments  were  charging  through  the  camp  and  up  the 
ravines  by  which  the  enemy  had  escaped  from  the  farther 
end  of  the  valley.  The  artillery  was  placed  on  high  ground 
from  which  there  was  a  descent  into  this  end  of  the  valley. 
From  this  position  it  shelled  the  faces  of  the  mountains  and 
the  hills  and  woods  beyond  the  farther  end.  At  each  firing 
of  the  cannon  the  sound  was  echoed  and  re-echoed  from  one 
mountain  face  to  the  other  until  it  rolled  away  in  a  con 
tinual  roar  in  the  distance. 

One  of  the  charging  parties  observed  a  staff  officer 
safely  sheltered  behind  a  projecting  rock,  himself  protected 
from  stray  bullets,  lustily  cheering  them  as  they  swept  past 
him,  and  shouting,  "Go  for  them !" 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  187 

A  lucky  man  in  one  of  the  charging  parties  was  Wil 
liamson  of  F.  Up  one  of  the  ravines  he  overtook  a  cannon 
that  the  enemy  were  trying  to  get  away.  This  was  cap 
tured,  and  about  forty  prisoners  were  taken.  Several  dead 
or  badly  wounded  were  left.  The  comfortable  huts  were 
burned.  A  small  herd  of  beef  cattle  and  four  hundred  hogs 
that  had  been  collected  near  the  camp  were  brought  away. 
Our  loss  was  two  men  wounded  and  two  horses  killed. 

This  camp  was  eighteen  miles  south  of  Moorefield.  To 
that  place  the  expedition  returned  that  day.  The  weather 
had  become  very  cold  and  it  was  a  comfortless  night.  An 
other  day's  march,  cold  and  tedious,  because  the  slow-travel 
ing  hogs  had  to  be  driven  along.  Many  of  these  furnished 
abundant  rations  of  fresh  pork  on  the  way.  Another  cold 
night  was  passed  in  the  valley  of  Patterson's  creek.  Then 
another  weary  day's  march  and  late  at  night  the  men  were 
in  their  own  lines  and  prepared  to  appreciate  comfortable 
quarters. 

From  the  morning  of  the  8th  to  daybreak  of  the  9th 
this  expedition  had  marched  eighty  miles  over  rough  moun 
tain  roads  and  along  the  rocky  beds  of  streams  which  had 
to  be  forded  many  times,  and  in  the  coldest  weather  that 
we  had  yet  experienced. 

We  now  learned  the  recent  news.  McClellan  had  been 
relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  Burnside  appointed  in  his  place.  In  New  York  Horatio 
Seymour  who  was  opposed  to  the  administration  had  been 
elected  governor. 

November  5,  Captain  Harkins  had  led  a  squadron 
toward  Winchester.  At  Pughtown  he  captured  a  picket 
post  of  seven  men  of  Stuart's  cavalry,  and  a  negro  who 
claimed  to  be  Stonewall  Jackson's  servant.  This  negro 
said  of  his  master,  "When  de  ole  gineral  gits  up  in  de  night 


188  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

to  pray,  den  we  knows  dar's  gwine  to  be  hot  work  de  nex 
day;  an  foh'  God,  we  goes  to  packin'  hav'sacks  right  off." 

Again  Captain  Bailey  went  out  in  the  direction  of  Win 
chester  and  captured  several  of  Stuart's  men.  There  was 
activity  on  both  sides.  November  14,  Company  B's  wagon 
was  on  its  way  to  Oldtown  for  supplies,  in  care  of  Hiram 
Peers  and  John  R.  Burd.  A  dozen  or  more  Confederates 
had  been  watching  and  as  the  wagon  came  along  they  seized 
the  horses  and,  leaving  the  wagon,  hurried  away  into  the 
mountains,  taking  Peers  and  Burd  with  them.  The  two 
were  taken  prisoners  to  Richmond  and  paroled.  As  soon 
as  the  report  of  the  capture  reached  Springfield,  Lieutenant 
Lewis  started  with  a  quickly-mustered  detail  in  pursuit. 
They  rode  fast,  but  the  captors  had  the  advantage  among 
the  mountain  paths  and  escaped. 

The  evening  of  this  same  day  John  Stuart  was  on  post 
at  a  turn  in  the  road  that  led  to  the  chain  bridge  and  in  hail 
ing  distance  of  the  battalion  quarters  in  Springfield.  Near 
where  he  was  stationed  a  rail  fence  ran  across  the  fields  from 
the  road  fence  to  the  woods.  His  horse  became  nervous. 
He  seemed  to  detect  something  wrong.  Stuart  was  watch 
ful,  but  he  could  neither  see  nor  hear  anything  suspicious. 
However,  he  cautiously  withdrew  to  a  safe  distance  and 
waited  for  the  relief.  George  Peavey  soon  came.  Stuart 
asked  him  to  remain  right  there  a  few  minutes  while  he 
himself  could  ride  down  the  road  a  little  way.  As  he  rode 
past  the  intersection,  both  going  and  returning,  the  actions 
of  his  horse  indicated  that  there  was  "something  in  the 
fence."  Without  mentioning  his  suspicions  he  asked  Pea 
vey  to  ride  down  the  road  and  back.  Neither  of  the  men 
was  subject  to  idle  fears.  But  Peavey's  horse  also  detected 
something  wrong  at  the  cross  fence.  After  talking  the 
matter  over,  Peavey  withdrew  a  little  distance  while  Stuart 
returned  to  quarters  for  help.  Just  as  he  reached  the  church 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  189 

door  a  shot  was  heard.  "Boys,  turn  out!"  and  quickly  a 
party  was  on  the  road.  As  Peavey  sat  on  his  horse  watch 
ing,  several  men  rose  from  their  hiding  place  under  the 
fence,  and,  seeing  no  one,  came  out  into  the  road.  Peavey 
fired,  but  by  the  time  the  party  from  the  quarters  was  on  the 
ground  the  Confederates  had  escaped  to  the  woods. 

A  few  days  later  the  lieutenant  colonel  who  was  com 
manding  the  regiment,  came  out  to  visit  the  posts.  With 
several  officers  and  a  small  escort,  he  rode  to  Thomson's 
ford,  and  from  there  along  by  the  side  of  the  river  all  the 
way  around  to  the  chain  bridge.  Soon  after,  the  post  at  the 
bridge  was  attacked  by  a  considerable  force,  but  the  attack 
ing  party  was  driven  off.  Two  of  the  post  were  wounded. 
One  of  the  assailants  was  killed  and  another  captured.  This 
prisoner  said  that  his  party  had  seen  the  officers  pass  along 
the  road,  and  would  have  attacked  them,  but  they  were  not 
quite  ready,  and  the  officers  passed  so  quickly  they  did  not 
have  time  to  make  their  attack. 

The  post  at  French's  store  was  attacked  and  two  men 
and  a  team  of  mules  were  captured  and  hurried  away. 

November  19  the  younger  Peavey  and  a  dozen  more 
went  out  early  in  the  morning  on  foot.  They  crossed  the 
South  Branch  and  went  on  through  the  woods  toward  the 
southeast.  At  evening  they  reached  Little  Capon  river. 
While  they  were  eating  supper  in  a  house  the  man  on  guard 
reported  cavalry  coming  from  the  south.  Here  was  a 
chance  for  a  fight.  But  it  proved  to  be  Captain  Boyd  who 
had  been  scouring  the  country  for  those  who  had  attacked 
his  post  at  French's  store.  The  timely  recognition  of  the 
challenger's  voice  averted  a  possible  fight,  for  both  parties 
were  looking  for  the  enemy  in  earnest. 

Returning  the  next  day  Peavey 's  men  were  within  a 
mile  of  Thomson's  ford,  when  suddenly  ten  or  more  Con 
federates  appeared  in  front  of  the  advance,  McCarty  and 


190  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Parker,  and  ordered  them  to  surrender.  Peavey  and  the 
others  a  little  in  the  rear,  whom  the  enemy  had  not  seen, 
fired  and  rushed  forward.  The  enemy,  surprised,  fired  and 
took  to  the  roadside  woods.  McCarty  was  wounded.  One 
who  had  remained  in  the  road  took  deliberate  aim  and  fired. 
His  shot  lodged  in  Peavey's  ankle.  Although  wounded, 
Peavey  kept  on  his  feet  and  returned  the  fellow's  fire,  hitting 
him  in  the  thigh,  breaking  the  bone  and  bringing  him  to  the 
ground.  All  was  quickly  done.  The  captured  man  said 
that  two  of  his  comrades  were  wounded.  The  wounded 
were  brought  into  Springfield  and  .attended  by  Dr.  Moore, 
a  resident  physician.  So  snugly  had  the  bullet  been  lodged 
among  the  bones  in  Peavey's  ankle  that  it  was  with  the 
greatest  difficulty  that  it  was  extracted.  The  two  wounded 
foemen  lay  for  weeks  on  adjacent  cots  in  the  hospital  at 
Oldtown,  and  became  personal  friends. 

The  nights  became  noisy  from  the  repeated  attacks  on 
the  pickets.  It  was  evident  that  the  citizens  of  Springfield 
were  constantly  giving  their  friends  information  as  to  every 
new  move  that  was  made.  There  was  need  of  constant 
vigilance.  Various  ruses  were  devised  and  more  effective 
scouting  planned.  But  war  is  a  game  at  which  two  can 
play,  and  these  mountaineers  were  in  it  for  all  they  could 
make. 

Bill  Wills  was  a  suspected  citizen  living  out  in  the 
country.  Some  of  the  men  learned  that  there  was  to  be  an 
apple  butter  party  at  the  house  of  Mathi  Mallison,  Bill's 
girl.  The  elder  Peavey  went  with  men  to  surround  the 
house. 

The  man  sought  for  was  not  there.  But  Peavey  and 
his  men  joined  the  party  socially  and  had  a  good  time.  Boyd 
caught  Wills  under  circumstances  that  convinced  him  that 
the  man  had  not  only  given  information,  but  had  acted  as 
guide  to  an  attacking  party.  There  was  no  proof,  but  the 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  191 

impatient  captain,  it  was  said,  gave  him  a  flogging  and  let 
him  go,  that  he  might  report  that  as  a  warning  to  his  fellows. 

The  elder  Peavey,  who  had  found  Imboden's  camp, 
was  summoned  to  Oldtown.  Returning  he  passed  through 
Springfield  so  perfectly  disguised  as  a  citizen  of  Penn 
sylvania  on  important  private  business  that  none  of  his  com 
rades  recognized  him. 

He  went  on  boldly  into  the  enemy's  country.  He 
was  prepared  to  tell  a  plausible  story.  He  was  ar 
rested  by  a  Confederate  patrol.  He  told  his  story,  but  it 
failed  to  convince  his  captors  who  proposed  to  hang  him  on 
the  spot.  But  they  finally  concluded  to  wait  till  the  next 
day,  and  take  him  to  a  higher  officer.  He  was  to  be  kept 
under  close  guard  in  a  house  during  the  night.  He  was 
.allowed  to  rest  on  a  bunk  that  was  next  a  window.  His 
guard  kept  post  in  front  of  the  bunk.  Peavey  did  not  sleep, 
but  his  guard  did.  To  remove  all  suspicion  of  his  honesty 
he  wakened  the  guard  and  asked  permission  to  go  out  for 
a  few  minutes.  The  guard  accompanied  him.  On  his  re 
turn  to  his  bunk  the  guard  resumed  his  post,  and,  lulled  into 
restful  security  as  to  his  honest  prisoner,  he  was  soon  asleep 
in  his  chair.  Peavey  noiselessly  raised  the  window  and 
slipped  through,  and  favored  by  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
made  for  the  nearest  woods.  Thanking  the  kindly  stars, 
and  disposed  to  take  no  more  such  risks,  he  worked  his  way 
by  unfrequented  mountain  sides  back  to  his  own  lines. 

The  22nd  Captain  Harkins  and  Bailey  went  out  with 
four  companies.  A  few  miles  from  Winchester  they  fell 
upon  a  picket  post,  and  without  loss  to  themselves,  captured 
twenty  men  and  forty  horses,  and  left  one  foeman  and  his 
horse  dead. 

The  Confederates  had  fine  horses,  and  these  improved 
the  mounting  of  our  men. 

With  all  its  activity  and  necessary  vigilance  this  cam- 


192  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

paign  was  full  of  enjoyment.  A  glorious  Indian  summer 
lingered  long  with  us.  The  woods  on  the  mountain  were 
gorgeous  in  all  bright  colors.  The  scenery  along  the  South 
Branch  and  tributary  streams  was  beautiful  beyond  descrip 
tion.  The  bottom  lands  along  the  rivers  were  fertile  and 
forage  was  abundant.  And  the  country  had  its  history.  A 
few  miles  away  was  Hanging  Rock,  a  wild  ledge  jutting 
out  and  over  the  road  beside  the  river.  Here  the  Catawba 
and  Delaware  Indians  once  fought  a  desperate  battle  in 
which  several  hundred  of  the  latter  were  killed,  very  few 
escaping.  A  mound  sixty  or  seventy  yards  in  length,  still 
to  be  seen,  is  supposed  to  be  the  grave  of  the  dead. 

There  were  deer,  wild  turkeys  and  other  game  on  the 
mountains.  One  day  a  deer  came  within  range  of  a  sentry's 
carbine  and  was  converted  into  venison.  It  suggested  the 
idea  that  fresh  meat  would,  for  a  change,  be  preferable  to 
the  regular  rations  of  salt  pork.  But  deer  did  not  appear 
in  sufficient  numbers.  A  wagon  going  out  for  hay  or  straw 
would  return  with  a  pig  or  a  sheep  or  a  calf  covered  up  in 
the  load.  It  was  reported  that  these  animals  when  chal 
lenged  had  not  responded  satisfactorily,  and  the  guards  had 
no  option  but  to  shoot.  There  were  good  shots  among  the 
men.  One  of  them  would  with  his  revolver  hit  a  quail  at 
several  rods.  They  were  not  always  careful  to  distinguish 
between  wild  and  domestic  turkeys,  and  between  quail  and 
spring  chicken. 

It  was  taken  for  granted  that  the  bushwhackers  who 
were  nightly  stealing  upon  the  picket  posts  were  kept  in 
formed  by  the  citizens  of  all  that  was  going  on.  To  return 
good  for  evil  the  men  kindly  milked  the  cows  for  the  people 
in  the  little  town.  They  would  get  up  early  in  the  morning 
to  do  the  milking.  They  soon  found  that  the  milk  maids 
were  getting  ahead  of  them.  The  men  would  get  up  earlier 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  193 

yet,  and  it  came  to  pass  that  about  midnight  was  milking 
time,  and  the  milkmaids  gave  it  up. 

One  day  Mrs.  Grace  came  over  to  quarters  with  a 
pitcher,  and  in  accents  that  were  evidently  intended  to  crush 
the  men  said :  "I  came  over  to  see  if  I  could  not  borrow  a 
little  milk  for  my  coffee."  John  Clark  of  F  cheerfully  re 
sponded,  "Certinly,  Madame,  certinly,  yeez  kin  have  all  yeez 
want.  We  have  that  much  milk  we  don't  know  phwat  tew 
dew  wid  it.  Oi  wuz  jist  comin'  over  tew  see  if  yeez  wud 
lind  us  the  loan  av  yer  chur-r-n."  Filling  her  pitcher  he 
handed  it  back  to  her.  Surplus  rations  were  exchanged  with 
families  for  butter  until  the  output  of  butter  fell  short  of  the 
needs  of  the  families  themselves. 

The  men  complained  that  the  pigs  were  too  aggressive. 
They  would  flock  about  the  stables  every  time  the  horses 
were  fed,  and  unless  the  men  stood  by,  the  pigs  would  eat 
the  corn  away  from  the  horses.  The  first  pig  was  shot  be 
cause  of  its  refusal  to  be  clubbed  away.  The  process  of 
disposing  of  its  remains  was  not  disagreeable,  and  one  pig 
after  another  disappeared,  no  one  could  tell  how. 

The  men,  unwilling  to  annoy  the  good  people  by  killing 
their  pets  in  plain  sight,  would  decoy  them  back  of  the  church 
in  which  they  were  quartered,  by  scattering  corn  along  the 
ground.  After  shooting  them  they  would  pass  them  through 
a  window  and  hoist  them  into  the  choir  gallery,  and  into  a 
loft  above,  and  keep  them  there  until  the  owner  had  searched 
the  church  thoroughly  and  satisfied  himself  that  it  was  not 
there.  After  this  there  would  be  a  hurried  dissection  which 
transformed  the  animal  into  a  condition  impossible  to  be 
identified. 

Finally  some  one  of  F  shot  a  large  hog  which  they 
whipped  into  the  church  and  up  to  the  gallery.  Just  then  the 
owner  accompanied  by  Captain  Bennett,  was  seen  coming 
toward  the  church.  The  men  attempted  to  thrust  it  up  into 


194  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  loft,  as  usual,  but  the  opening  was  too  small.  Throwing 
some  benches  over  the  hog  they  hurried  down  stairs,  and 
were  seemingly  much  astonished  at  being  accused  of  shoot 
ing  the  hog,  and  they  invited  the  captain  and  the  owner  to 
search  the  building  so  that  their  innocence  might  be -estab 
lished.  A  careful  search  was  made,  and  at  last  the  corpus 
delicti  was  found.  Captain  Bennett  ordered  the  men,  as  a 
partial  reparation,  to  dress  the  hog  and  take  it  to  the  house 
of  the  owner.  After  dressing  it  in  fine  style  they  placed 
it  on  the  company  wagon,  and,  falling  in  two  and  t\vo  be 
hind  the  wagon,  preceded  by  John  McArthy,  the  bugler, 
playing  the  Dead  March,  the  long  and  slow  procession 
moved  to  the  owner's  house  where  they  delivered  up  the 
corpse.  Then  they  marched  back  to  quarters  to  the  tune  of 
" Haste  to  the  Wedding." 

In  the  barns  and  granaries  were  found  bins  of  high 
grade  winter  wheat  that  looked  as  if  it  had  been  left  there 
on  purpose,  with  sacks  convenient.  Grists  were  taken  to 
the  mill  at  Thomson's  ford  on  the  South  Branch.  Good  toll 
was  allowed  the  miller.  Wheat  pancakes  baked  in  the 
spiders  and  served  with  fresh  pork  gravy  were  greatly  pre 
ferred  to  hard  tack.  There  were  in  those  days  no  kitchens 
in  the  churches.  If  the  men  desired  fresh  bread  or  hot  bis 
cuit  they  would  take  the  flour  to  families  to  be  baked  on 
shares.  Literally,  they  were  "eating  their  white  bread." 

A  literary  society  was  organized  free  for  all.  Military 
and  political  questions  were  vigorously  debated.  There 
were  educated  men  in  the  ranks  of  these  companies.  Sev 
eral  were  regular  correspondents  not  only  of  their  home 
papers,  but  of  leading  city  papers.  Among  many  who  were 
active  in  these  debates  and  literary  meetings  were  C.  T. 
Williamson,  a  student  of  Rutgers  College,  a  good  scholar 
and  a  fearless  soldier;  Hoagland,  full  of  classical  allusions; 
Stanton,  Kerr,  Beach,  the  Peaveys,  O'Brien  and  many  more. 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  195 

There  were  good  times,  too,  around  headquarters  at 
Oldtown.  The  little  village  of  Springfield  had  no  large  sup 
plies  of  merchandise  for  sale.  It  was  sometimes  necessary 
to  go  to  the  sutler's  at  Oldtown  for  needed  articles.  Such 
as  had  occasion  to  go  there  found  a  night's  shelter  at  the 
quarters  of  the  wagon  master,  Merritt,  or  "George,"  as  he 
was  generally  called. 

A  Sibley  tent  is  like  an  inverted  morning  glory.  In 
such  quarters  Merritt  in  the  evening  would  keep  open  house 
for  his  friends.  An  iron  socket  holding  a  tallow  candle 
stuck  in  the  center  pole.  On  the  ground  floor  were  straw> 
saddles,  blankets  and  arms.  Among  these,  resting  in  all 
postures,  were  men  who  on  some  errand  had  come  back  from 
the  front.  They  had  entertained  their  host  with  doubtful 
stories  of  scouts  beyond  the  outposts.  To  vary  the  enter 
tainment,  Merritt  finally  arose  and  with  full  voice  and  im 
passioned  manner  began  to  recite  a  selection  that  he  had 
learned  to  "speak"  when  a  school  boy.  He  had  talent  in 
this  direction.  Once  he  surprised  his  audience.  First  one, 
then  all,  turning  upon  the  speaker  a  startled,  frightened  look, 
began  to  creep  stealthily  toward  the  outer  parts  of  the  tent 
and  to  crawl  under  it,  as  if  in  speechless  terror.  In  their 
frantic  endeavors  to  escape  they  succeeded  in  getting  their 
heads  outside,  while  their  wriggling  remainders  were  inside 
the  tent.  The  speaker  stood  alone,  the  center  of  a  zodiac 
of  vanishing  constellations. 

The  field  and  staff  officers  were  not  without  their  in 
teresting  little  affairs.  Some  fine  horses  had  been  captured 
from  Imboden.  These  possessed  speed.  A  race  course 
was  laid  out  for  trials  in  speed.  There  were  hurdles  and 
ditches  for  practice  in  jumping  and  rough  riding. 

The  lieutenant  colonel  had  his  school  of  practice  for 
the  officers.  On  every  occasion  when  in  command  he 


196  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

showed  himself  a  thorough  disciplinarian,  and  in  every  way 
an  efficient  officer. 

But  things  occurred  that  were  not  down  in  the  regula 
tions.  The  major  of  the  first  battalion  was  soldierly  in  ap 
pearance,  trained  at  West  Point,  and  capable.  But  he  was 
intemperate,  sometimes  uncontrollable,  and  even  dangerous. 
It  had  been  deemed  best  that  he  should  ask  for  his  discharge. 
He  was  waiting  for  the  acceptance  of  his  resignation.  One 
day  he  was  using  his  revolver  too  freely.  One  of  the  cap 
tains  proposed  that  they  all  go  out  and  shoot  at  a  mark. 
When  it  was  supposed  that  the  major  had  emptied  his  re 
volver  the  captain  said:  "Now  let's  go  in."  But  he  had 
not  kept  count  correctly.  "No,  you  don't,"  replied  the 
major,  as  he  fired  his  last  shot  at  the  captain.  But  his  hand 
was  unsteady,  and  he  missed  his  mark. 

The  major  of  the  second  battalion  was  sometimes  the 
object  of  jokes  and  ridicule.  His  abounding  assurance  en 
abled  him  to  bear  this  treatment  with  astonishing  equa 
nimity.  The  first  major  had  no  use  for  him,  nor  friendship. 
He  was  occupying  a  room  in  an  old  house  in  which  doors 
and  windows  were  shrunken  with  age.  There  was  a  fire 
place  in  which  the  embers  burning  low  gave  a  dim  light. 
The  first  major  was  making  his  midnight  rounds  on  private 
account.  He  had  lost  his  directions,  and  was  trying  all  the 
doors  and  windows  of  the  first  major's  apartments,  mutter 
ing,  "I'm  cold.  Let  me  in.  I'm  very  cold."  The  second 
major  was  suspicious  that  the  other  was  trying,  by  putting 
lighted  papers  under  the  door,  to  burn  him  out.  He  had 
invited  the  colonel's  son,  who  had  been  made  lieutenant  and 
commissary,  to  occupy  another  bed  in  a  corner  of  the  room. 

The  latter,  awakened  from  his  sleep,  by  the  light  of  the 
smouldering  fire,  saw  the  major  in  his  night  robes,  sitting 
upright  in  bed,  the  shock  of  hair  on  his  great  bushy  head 


AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS.  197 

standing  out  in  all  directions,  with  revolver  in  hand,  in 
mortal  dread  lest  his  fellow  major  should  gain  access. 

After  all  the  incidents  peculiar  to  a  state  of  war  the 
relations  between  the  men  and  the  residents  of  Springfield 
were  very  friendly,  and  it  was  with  regret  on  both  sides 
that  orders  were  received  for  these  companies  to  move. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
NORTH  MOUNTAIN  STATION. 

DECEMBER  9  the  companies  at  Springfield  vacated 
their  comfortable  quarters  in  the  churches.  There 
was  snow  on  the  ground.  After  a  march  of  thirty-five  miles 
by  the  way  of  Bloomery  they  halted  for  the  night  at  some 
large  farm  buildings.  It  had  become  very  cold.  In  the 
barnyard  was  a  large  stack  of  straw  built  inside  a  rail  pen. 
The  cattle  had  reached  over  the  rails  and  eaten  great  holes 
in  the  stack.  Some  of  the  men  crawled  into  these  holes  to 
sleep.  But  it  was  too  cold.  The  best  way  was  to  build  fires 
and  lie  around  them,  heads  outward,  like  the  spokes  around 
the  hub  of  a  wheel.  If  the  feet  could  be  kept  warm  one 
could  sleep  comfortably.  The  loth  was  mild  and  bright. 
Late  in  the  afternoon  they  crossed  the  last  mountain  ridge 
at  Hedgesville  and  before  them  lay  the  broad  valley.  They 
stopped  that  night  in  the  basement  of  Dr.  Hammond's  great 
brick  barn  near  North  Mountain  station  on  the  B.  &  O.  R.  R. 

The  nth  was  pleasant.  Twenty-five  men  from  B  and 
M  under  Lieutenants  Prendergast  and  Lewis  were  ordered 
to  Martinsburg,  seven  miles,  to  learn  the  situation.  When  a 
mile  from  the  place  they  drew  sabres  and  at  a  rapid  rate 
galloped  into  and  through  the  town.  There  were  no  armed 
enemies  there.  Most  of  the  people  were  Union  in  their  sym 
pathies,  and  were  glad  to  see  northern  soldiers  once  more. 

Prendergast's  orders  were  to  go  only  to  Martinsburg. 

198 


NORTH  MOUNTAIN  STATION.  199 

But  he  learned  that  five  miles  out  on  the  Winchester  pike 
there  was  a  Confederate  picket  post  of  forty  men.  He  pro 
posed  to  the  men  that  they  go  and  see.  All  agreed.  An  ad 
vance  was  sent  ahead.  Four  miles  out  the  advance  caught 
sight  of  two  videttes  and  immediately  went  forward  at  full 
speed,  the  rest  following.  They  soon  were  in  sight  of  the 
reserve  around  an  old  brick  house  at  cross  roads  on  a  hill. 
They  could  be  seen  hastily  picking  up  things,  putting  on 
overcoats,  tightening  girths,  untying  horses,  mounting,  get 
ting  into  the  road,  and  heading  the  other  way.  They  all 
were  wearing  blue  overcoats.  This  was  the  cause  of  a  few 
mistakes  that  happened. 

Prendergast  was  a  young  Englishman,  tall  and  spare, 
with  florid  complexion,  sandy  hair,  side  whiskers,  and  a 
large  mustache  that  projected  over  some  rather  prominent 
front  teeth.  Mention  has  before  been  made  of  an  obliquity 
in  his  speech.  He  could  not  sound  d  and  r  correctly.  His 
d  was  like  g  and  his  r  like  zv.  When  he  became  excited  his 
voice  was  shrill,  and  he  was  given  to  the  use  of  expletives. 
There  was  no  discount  on  his  fighting  qualities.  Lewis  was 
recklessly  brave,  as  was  proved  at  Sangster's  station. 

The  men  had  learned  that  shouting  helped  things  along 
in  matters  of  this  kind.  They  were  doing  their  best  both 
in  speed  and  noise.  Foremost  among  them,  like  the  hungri 
est  and  fiercest  of  a  pack  of  yelping  wolves  after  a  flock  of 
sheep,  rode  the  two  officers.  One  after  another  of  the  fugi 
tives  was  overhauled,  gave  up  his  arms,  and  was  passed  to 
the  rear.  Prendergast  was  after  a  particular  enemy  who 
was  exerting  himself  to  the  utmost  to  get  away.  For  a 
distance  he  was  close  upon  his  left  flank.  Then  gaining  a 
little  he  was  almost  neck  and  neck  with  him.  Several  times 
he  shouted,  "Suh-weng-guh !"  But  the  Confederate  leaning 
forward  kept  digging  his  spurs  into  his  horse.  At  last  the 
lieutenant,  out  of  all  patience  with  the  fellow's  desperate 


200  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

efforts  to  get  away,  with  a  fearful  sweep  brought  his  sabre 
around  broadside  against  his  face,  with  a  force  that  brought 
him  sitting  upright  in  his  saddle.  He  surrendered. 

The  chase  was  kept  up  for  five  miles,  and  thirteen  had 
been  captured.  We  were  getting  a  good  way  from  home. 
The  lieutenant  called  a  halt.  As  soon  as  he  slowed  up  some 
of  the  fugitives  stopped  and  faced  about.  One  of  these  who 
was  wearing  a  blue  overcoat,  challenged  the  lieutenant  who 
was  slowly  riding  forward,  "Halt!  Who  comes  there?"  as 
if  he  had  not  yet  found  out.  "Fwengs !"  was  the  reply.  But 
the  challenger  doubted  it,  and  fired  his  revolver,  when  the 
lieutenant  rode  full  tilt  at  him,  firing  and  calling  him  to 
"Suh-weng-guh!"  The  chase  was  renewed  for  another 
mile  when  again  a  halt  was  called. 

Some  of  the  fugitives,  hard  pressed  in  the  highway,  had 
darted  through  gaps  in  the  fences  and  were  scattering 
through  the  fields.  Some  of  the  Federals  became  excited  in 
the  pursuit  of  these  and  were  slow  to  heed  the  call  to  halt. 
Sergeant  Beach  was  directed  to  call  these  back. 

John  Casey  was  an  Irishman  in  Company  B.  He  had 
a  thin,  high-keyed  voice  and  a  peculiarly  adroit  way  of  get 
ting  around  without  attracting  attention,  especially  if  he  saw 
-  something  that  he  wanted.  He  was  a  good  soldier  and  cared 
well  for  his  horse,  generally  managing  to  get  extra  feed  for 
him.  He  often  volunteered  to  go  with  a  detail  to  "draw" 
oats.  On  one  occasion  the  grain  was  stored  on  the  first  and 
second  floors  of  an  old  stone  warehouse.  The  wagon  was 
backed  up  to  the  lower  door.  Some  of  the  men  in  the 
wagon  boosted  Casey  through  the  upper  doorway  which  was 
directly  above  the  lower  one.  Watching  his  chance  he 
would  toss  out  a  sack  of  oats  into  the  wagon.  The  quarter 
master's  clerk  went  up-stairs ;  Casey  was  diligently  reading 
an  old  book  that  he  picked  up  from  a  shelf.  The  clerk  went 
down-stairs — and  out  went  another  sack  of  oats. 


NORTH  MOUNTAIN  STATION.  201 

On  this  chase  Casey  was  far  to  the  front.  By  some 
woods  on  the  farther  side  of  a  field  were  two  horsemen  in 
blue.  Casey  rode  up  to  them.  He  was  surprised  when  he 
was  told  to  dismount  and  give  up  his  horse  and  arms.  He 
slyly  glanced  over  his  shoulder  to  see  if  any  help  was  near. 
Seeing  none,  he  did  as  he  was  told.  He  was  then  allowed 
to  go  his  way  on  foot.  As  soon  as  he  was  near  enough  to 
make  himself  heard  he  called  to  the  sergeant,  who  was  try 
ing  to  get  the  scattered  men  together,  as  loud  as  his  thin 
voice  would  let  him,  "Sergeant  Beach!  Sergeant  Beach! 
Those  blamed  rebels  have  got  me  horse !"  He  was  almost 
crying  over  the  loss  of  his  horse,  which  was  a  fine  one.  The 
sergeant  looked  and  saw  that  the  Confederates  had  come 
back  into  the  pike  and  were  getting  away  with  the  led  horse. 
Notwithstanding  the  orders  to  fall  back  he  called  to  two  or 
three  men,  "Let's  get  Casey's  horse  back,"  and  the  chase 
was  again  renewed.  The  Confederates  were  forced  to  let 
go  the  horse,  which  was  easily  caught.  The  sergeant  and 
his  few  men  were  returning,  Skerry  leading  the  horse,  when 
Lieutenant  Lewis  came  riding  rapidly  to  the  front  calling 
everybody  to  "Come  back." 

A  short  distance  farther  on  a  stream  a  foot  or  more  in 
depth  was  flowing  across  the  road.  Beyond  this  was  a  rise 
of  ground.  Here  was  a  group  of  Confederates,  a  dozen  or 
so,  who  had  halted  and  faced  about.  All  were  wearing  blue 
overcoats. 

As  Lewis,  calling  to  the  men  to  "Come  back,"  was  rid 
ing  past  the  sergeant  the  latter  said  to  him,  "Those  men  are 
all  rebels."  "I  want  to  bring  those  men  back !"  "I  tell  you 
they  are  all  rebels!"  Lewis  did  not  understand  and  rode 
on,  while  the  sergeant  sat  still,  looked  on,  and  wondered. 
Lewis  rode  on  through  the  stream  and  up  the  hill  to  the 
group  of  men  in  blue,  all  the  while  shouting,  "Come  back!" 
He  was  halted  by  the  lieutenant  in  command,  who  said  to 


202  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

him:  "Do  you  wish  to  surrender?"  No  reply  coming 
from  Lewis,  one  of  the  men  said :  "Lieutenant,  if  he 
doesn't  surrender,  shoot  him!"  Lewis  did  not  reply  at 
once  in  order  to  gain  a  little  time  and  give  his  horse  a 
breathing  spell.  Again  the  Confederate  asked  him  to  sur 
render,  at  the  same  time  making  a  tierce  point  with  his  sabre 
at  Lewis'  back,  which  was  cleverly  met  by  a  rear  moulinet. 
Putting  both  spurs  to  his  horse,  Lewis  dashed  down  the 
hill  and  through  the  stream,  followed  by  a  shower  of  bullets, 
but  he  escaped  unharmed.  As  he  "came  back"  the  sergeant 
said  to  him :  "I  told  you  those  were  all  rebels."  "So 
I  found,"  was  his  indifferent  reply.  The  Confederates  be 
longed  to  Turner  Ashby's  cavalry  which  was  made  up  from 
the  best  of  the  Confederacy." 

Late  in  the  evening  the  party  reached  Hammond's  barn, 
not  a  man  injured,  and  with  their  prisoners  all  safe,  some  of 
whom  had  received  severe  sabre  wounds. 

The  elder  Peavey  had  seen  more  years  than  were  al 
lowed  an  ordinary  soldier.  But  he  wTas  so  robust  that  at 
muster-in  no  notice  had  been  taken  of  several  extra  years. 
Perhaps  he  felt  that  his  experience  as  the  Nestor  of  the 
camp  entitled  him  to  the  privilege  of  commenting  freely  on 
whatever  was  done  that  he  did  not  have  a  part  in.  He 
would  criticize  everything,  from  the  administration  down  to 
the  latest  drawing  of  rations.  It  was  not  easy  to  check  him. 
He  had  been  equal  to  any  service,  but  one  little  experience 
was  a  tender  point.  He  had  not  been  on  this  little  raid. 
The  day  after,  he  was  reading  a  rather  favorable  published 
account  of  it,  and  was  punctuating  his  reading  with  an  occa 
sional  derisive,  "Big  thing!"  "Big  thing!"  Beach  quietly 
and  good  naturedly  remarked,  "Not  quite  so  big  a  thing, 
though,  as  the  charge  on  General  Davidson  at  Mechanics- 
ville  last  May."  The  old  gentleman  grated  his  teeth  in  his 


NORTH  MOUNTAIN  STATION.  203 

effort  to  repress  his  wrath  and  burst  out,  "Beach,  you  are 
devilish  mean!" 

The  1 2th  the  companies  moved  to  North  Mountain 
station  and  made  temporary  quarters  out  of  fence  rails  and 
straw.  The  track  of  the  railroad  had  been  torn  up  by  the 
enemy.  It  was  now  being  relaid.  The  I4th  all  the  com 
panies  were  here.  Some  artillery  and  infantry  also  came, 
the  1 26th  Ohio  and  First  West  Virginia,  Colonel  McRey- 
nolds  commanding. 

The  captain  and  five  men  captured  October  2nd  had 
been  exchanged  and  returned.  Scouting  parties  were  going 
out  daily. 

The  report  came  of  Burnside's  unfortunate  attack  at 
Fredericksburg. 

The  1 8th  a  new  camp  was  laid  out.  Some  companies 
were  detached.  At  one  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  igth  an 
alarm  came  from  Captain  Harkins  at  Martinsburg.  An  at 
tack  was  feared.  All  available  men  were  turned  out.  The 
night  was  clear  and  cold.  A  long  ride — miles  beyond 
Martinsburg.  No  enemy  found. 

The  2  ist  a  battalion  was  ordered  out  with  two  days' 
rations.  Reinforced  at  Martinsburg.  To  Shepherdstown, 
Kearneysville,  Leetown  and  to  the  southeast.  Roads  muddy. 
A  long,  cold,  hard  ride.  Ten  miles  southeast  of  Martins 
burg  lived  a  prominent  old  secessionist.  To  gain  informa 
tion  from  him  the  officers  stated  that  they  were  Confederates. 
The  old  gentleman  opened  his  mind  freely,  causing  much 
amusement.  Returned  to  Martinsburg  for  the  night.  After 
midnight  all  were  ordered  out  in  haste.  ''Large  force  of 
the  enemy  coming  this  way!"  A  young  woman  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  old  secessionist  had  heard  the  officers 
say  they  were  rebel  cavalry  on  their  way  to  attack  the  post, 
and  she  had  come  to  give  warning.  The  strategy  of  the 
officers  had  only  worked  their  own  discomfort. 


204  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

January  3rd  the  greater  part  of  the  regiment  was  or 
dered  out  at  4  a.m.  It  was  a  frosty  morning.  To  Martins- 
burg,  Bunker  Hill,  Smithfield,  Leetown,  and  back  to  Mar- 
tinsburg,  forty-five  miles.  It  was  then,  at  n  p.m.,  directed 
to  proceed  immediately  to  Winchester,  twenty  miles  more. 
All  that  clear,  cold  night  the  march  was  continued.  Men 
slept  on  their  horses.  The  sun  was  rising  over  the  distant 
Blue  Ridge  as  the  regiment  rode  into  Winchester. 


CEDAR  CREEK. 


WINCHESTER  TWENTY  MILES  AWAY. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
WINCHESTER. 

TV  7INCHESTER  was  the  most  important  place  in  the 
^^  Valley  of  Virginia.  This  great  valley  is  a  continua 
tion  of  what,  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  is  known  as  the 
Cumberland  Valley.  It  is  twenty  to  twenty-five  miles  wide 
and  is  a  country  of  beauty  and  fertility.  There  are  out- 
croppings  of  limestone  and  copious  springs  on  almost  every 
farm.  Early  settlers  of  eastern  Virginia  visited  the  region 
and  carried  back  the  most  favorable  reports.  It  was  part  of 
the  great  tract  granted  by  Charles  II.  to  the  ancestors  of  Lord 
Fairfax.  In  1748  George  Washington,  then  sixteen  years 
old,  began  the  survey  of  parts  of  this  tract.  Several  years 
before  this  time  Fairfax,  who,  after  coming  from  England, 
had  lived  at  Belvoir,  had  made  his  home  near  Millwood, 
fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Winchester.  White  Post  was  so 
named  from  a  guide  board  attached  to  a  white  post  direct 
ing  the  way  to  Greenway  Court,  a  mile  from  the  road. 

Winchester  was  incorporated  by  a  special  act  of  the 
General  Assembly  in  1752.  In  Indian  wars  and  wars 
against  the  French  it  was  a  frontier  rallying  point  and  a 
depot  of  supplies.  On  high  ground  just  outside  the  town 
to  the  north,  and  on  the  west  side  of  Loudon  street  Wash 
ington  had  Fort  Loudon  built,  an  earthwork  enclosing  half 
an  acre.  Within  the  fort  a  well  was  sunk  to  a  depth  of  more 
than  a  hundred  feet,  most  of  the  way  through  solid  lime- 

206 


206  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

stone,  the  water  rising  nearly  to  the  surface.  Four  miles 
to  the  west  barracks  were  built  for  the  Hessian  prisoners 
taken  at  Saratoga. 

Lord  Fairfax  passed  his  last  years  in  Winchester.  He 
died  in  1782  at  the  age  of  92.  He  was  buried  under  the 
altar  in  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  a  tory  and  was 
greatly  chagrined  that  the  stripling  who  had  surveyed  his 
lands  should  have  finally  defeated  the  armies  of  England. 

Winchester  was  the  last  home  of  General  Daniel  Mor 
gan.  A  modest  monument  in  the  cemetery  marks  his  grave. 

Around  here  had  been  a  favorite  abode  of  the  Shawnees, 
a  powerful  tribe  of  Indians. 

Through  the  valley  were  excellent  stone  pikes.  One  of 
these  extended  continuously  from  central  Pennsylvania  to 
the  James  river.  This  had  been  a  line  of  extensive  migra 
tions  from  Pennsylvania,  whose  sturdy  farmers  appreciated 
the  fertile  limestone  lands  of  this  valley.  Abraham  Lin 
coln's  ancestors  moved  from  New  England  to  Pennsylvania. 
Here  they  intermarried  with  the  Quakers.  Later  they  moved 
up  this  valley  to  Rockingham  county.  From  here  Lincoln's 
grandfather  moved  to  Kentucky. 

Just  west  of  the  town  was  the  home  of  James  M.  Mason 
who  had  been  sent  as  Confederate  minister  to  England.  The 
sympathies  of  most  of  the  people  were  with  the  South.  They 
seemed  generally  intelligent,  of  high  social  character,  and 
well  to  do. 

The  region  was  early  the  scene  of  active  operations. 
April  17,  1 86 1 ,  hastily  levied  forces  hurried  down  the  valley 
and  the  next  morning  took  possession  of  Harper's  Ferry. 
When  they  withdrew  they  broke  up  the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  run 
ning  across  the  northern  part,  and  the  branch  running  to 
Winchester.  A  number  of  locomotives  were  taken  from  the 
track  at  Martinsburg,  drawn  by  teams  along  the  pike  to 
Strasburg  and  there  replaced  on  the  track,  to  be  used  in  the 


WINCHESTER.  207 

South.  The  ground  had  been  the  scenes  of  alternate  ad 
vances  and  retreats. 

A  mile  south  of  the  town  was  Mill  creek,  a  strong- 
stream  flowing  from  large  springs.  On  this  were  some 
flour  mills.  Here  the  regiment  halted.  After  breakfast 
horses  and  men  lay  down  together  to  rest.  It  was  a  pleas 
ant  forenoon,  but  in  the  afternoon  a  sudden  storm  drove  the 
men  to  shelter  in  the  mills  and  barns.  Pickets  were  posted 
and  scouts  sent  out. 

The  6th  all  serviceable  horses  and  men  were  ordered  to 
start  out  very  early  the  next  morning.  Those  who  were  to 
remain  sought  less  scattered  quarters.  There  were  indica 
tions  of  cold  weather  and  snow.  One  man  thought  himself 
fortunate  in  getting  into  a  corn  crib,  with  sides  of  horizontal 
strips  an  inch  or  more  apart.  He  slept  soundly  till  mid 
night  when  he  awoke  to  find  himself  covered  up  in  a  snow 
drift.  He  pulled  his  blanket  up  over  his  face,  thought  of 
home  and  feather  beds — and  went  to  sleep  again. 

The  7th  was  intensely  cold.  Long  before  day  Von 
Schickfuss  was  on  the  road.  The  same  day  those  who  had 
been  left  at  North  Mountain  came.  Colonel  McReynolds 
commanding  the  brigade  had  his  headquarters  at  Martins- 
burg. 

The  lieutenant  colonel  took  the  Back  road  along  the 
eastern  base  of  North  Mountain.  He  passed  beyond  Wood 
stock,  thirty-two  miles,  and  came  into  the  place  by  night  from 
the  south.  He  captured  part  of  the  force  that  was  stationed 
here.  In  the  darkness  probably  many  eluded  capture,  but 
their  horses  were  found.  Considerable  mail  was  taken,  and 
information  of  the  forces  farther  south  was  obtained.  On 
the  return  the  videttes  that  had  been  posted  along  the  road 
were  brought  along.  The  lieutenant  colonel  had  managed 
his  raid  well.  Before  daylight  of  the  8th  he  returned  after 
a  ride  of  more  than  seventy-five  miles,  bringing  a  dozen 


208  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

prisoners  and  thirty  horses.  Among  the  horses  was  one 
that  Valentine  had  lost  on  the  Romney  road,  October  2. 
There  were  some  fine  horses  in  the  regiment.  One  of  the 
best  was  the  magnificent,  high  stepping  black  of  Lieutenant 
Hinton,  who  with  his  extra  riding  as  adjutant,  had  probably 
ridden  nearly  ninety  miles,  but  the  animal  seemed  as  fresh 
and  free  as  at  the  start. 

The  8th  Lieutenant  Knowles  went  out  with  twenty  men 
and  at  Newtown,  eight  miles,  found  a  large  quantity  of  gray 
cloth  intended  for  the  southern  army. 

The  9th  all  the  companies  made  a  camp  on  the  high  open 
ground  north  of  the  town  and  west  of  the  pike.  The  site  of 
Fort  Loudon  was  within  the  limits  of  the  camp. 

A  tedious  storm  of  snow  and  rain  came  on  and  horses 
and  men  suffered  severely.  From  railroad  and  other  old 
buildings  material  was  obtained,  and  before  long  there  were 
comfortable  quarters  for  both. 

General  Milroy  was  commanding  the  division.  A  large 
part  of  his  force  was  from  West  Virginia.  This  state  had 
seceded  from  the  Old  Dominion,  and  had  been  admitted  as 
one  of  the  states  of  the  Union.  In  honor  of  this  event  there 
was  a  military  review  on  the  loth. 

The  nth  some  wagons  were  sent  out  among  the  hills 
to  the  west  for  hay.  It  was  reported  that  a  suspicious  look 
ing  man  had  been  seen  up  a  mountain  road.  A  sergeant 
and  one  man  went  to  see.  They  caught  sight  of  a  man  in 
gray  who,  seeing  them,  started  to  run.  They  hailed  him 
and  gave  chase.  He  was  tall  and  quick  on  the  run,  and  was 
making  for  a  piece  of  woods.  His  pursuers,  making  a  cir 
cuit,  headed  him  off.  He  made  for  a  house.  He  had  time 
to  reach  the  yard  where,  with  drawn  revolver,  he  stood  face 
to  face  with  the  sergeant  who  had  outridden  his  comrade. 
He  had  a  determined  look  indicating  that  he  would  not  be 
taken.  The  sergeant  was  equally  determined  to  take  him. 


WINCHESTER.  209 

An  injudicious  move  on  the  part  of  either  would  have  led 
to  a  duel  at  one  pace,  and  the  chances  were  with  the  one 
who  should  get  the  first  shot.  Each  watched  the  eye  of  the 
other.  A  few  questions  and  answers,  and  all  was  satis 
factory.  The  man  was  Hyatt  Brown,  from  Westchester, 
and  was  serving  as  a  scout.  He  had  suffered  at  the  hands 
of  the  Confederates,  and  supposing  that  his  pursuers  were 
his  enemies  he  was  determined  not  to  fall  into  their  hands 
alive.  He  was  a  clear-headed,  sharp  man,  and  an  efficient 
scout. 

The  1 7th  there  was  an  alarm.  A  large  detail  rode 
hard  from  noon  till  midnight.  At  McCoy's  on  the  Front 
Royal  road  was  found  where  the  enemy  had  stopped  the 
night  before.  After  the  raid  to  Woodstock  General  Jones 
had  come  down  to  investigate.  He  had  come  down  east  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,  crossed  the  Ridge  and  the  Shenandoah,  come 
within  a  few  miles  of  Winchester,  then  moved  to  the  south 
west  and  crossed  the  Front  Royal  road.  While  our  detail 
was  looking  at  his  tracks  here,  he  had  moved  over  to  New- 
town  on  the  main  pike  south.  From  here  he  sent  a  party 
down  the  Back  road  inside  our  outmost  pickets  on  the  road 
west  and  captured  them.  The  report  of  this  soon  came,  and 
Company  K  was  sent  in  pursuit.  The  captured  men  de 
layed,  in  every  way  they  could,  the  progress  of  their  captors, 
hoping  that  a  rescuing  party  would  follow.  Company  K 
soon  overtook  them  and  pressed  them  so  hard  that  the  cap 
tors  were  glad  to  leave  their  prisoners  behind  in  order  to 
save  themselves. 

Early  the  iQth  there  was  another  sharp  call  to  "saddle 
up."  The  force  ordered  out  rode  from  early  in  the  morn 
ing  till  eleven  at  night,  to  Strasburg  and  across  to  the  Front 
Royal  road  and  home,  but  no  enemy  was  found. 

The  25th  a  large  body  went  to  White  Post.  The  26th 
another  went  to  look  along  the  other  side  of  North  Moun- 


210  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

tain.  They  found  some  cattle,  sheep  and  horses  collected  in 
a  retired  valley  in  the  charge  of  some  suspicious  looking 
men.  On  the  reasonable  supposition  that  these  were  in 
tended  for  the  enemy  they  were  all  brought  in. 

Their  experience  was  teaching  the  men  the  value  of  a 
good  horse.  They  had  built  comfortable  stables  and  gen 
erally  took  good  care  of  their  horses.  A  captain,  himself  a 
good  horseman,  was  disposed  in  some  ways  to  be  too  exact 
ing.  At  least  so  the  men  thought.  He  gave  orders  one 
day  that  they  should  thoroughly  wash  their  horses'  tails. 
It  was  cold  weather,  and  they  thought  the  order  unreason 
able.  They  either  evaded  the  order  or  obeyed  it  unwillingly. 

The  captain  had  impressed  into  his  possession  a  fine, 
brown,  pony-like  horse,  Nip,  on  which  he  was  wont  to  dis 
play  his  dashing  horsemanship,  flourishing  meanwhile  a 
light,  braided  leather  whip.  The  morning  after  the  un 
popular  order  Nip's  tail  was  found  to  be  badly  haggled.  The 
captain  was  furious.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  stable  guard 
suggested  that  Nip  must  have  backed  around  so  that  some 
neighboring  horse,  given  to  cribbing,  had  eaten  off  the  tail. 
The  captain  mustered  his  men,  and  with  fists  clenched  and 
fierceness  bristling  all  over  his  face,  declared  he  would  "bring 
them  down  to  the  bull  ring!"  It  was  never  publicly  known 
how  Nip's  tail  became  so  haggled,  nor  did  the  "bull  ring," 
whatever  the  captain's  idea  at  the  time  might  have  been, 
ever  materialize. 

News  came  that  Fitz  John  Porter  had  been  dismissed 
from  the  army,  and  that  Burnside  had  been  relieved,  and 
Hooker  placed  in  command.  The  men  were  looking  for 
indications  of  the  coming  leader.  They  were  watching  their 
own  immediate  officers,  too.  In  the  present  conditions  there 
were  opportunities  for  officers  and  men  to  prove  their  fight 
ing  qualities.  The  prospect  of  a  lively  fight  and  chase  added 


WINCHESTER.  211 

interest  to  the  service.  The  men  were  becoming  indifferent 
to  danger. 

February  4,  the  Thirteenth  Pennsylvania  cavalry  came 
from  their  camp  of  instruction  at  Baltimore. 

The  6th  the  report  came  that  the  stage  from  Martins- 
burg  bringing  the  mail  and  several  officers  as  passengers, 
had  been  captured.  Companies  A  and  K  under  Captain 
Jones,  with  Lieutenants  Watkins  and  Laverty,  went  in 
pursuit. 

Captain  Jones  had  served  in  the  cavalry  of  the  regular 
army.  He  was  a  quiet  man,  but  capable,  and  never  failed 
to  take  advantage  of  an  opportunity.  Watkins  had  led  the 
advance  at  Capon  bridge.  Laverty  was  a  tall,  spare,  boyish 
looking  fellow  who  had  been  promoted  from  corporal  of  D 
to  second  lieutenant  of  K,  and  was  familiarly  spoken  of  as 
"ninth  corporal''  of  that  company. 

The  pursuing  party  was  well  officered  and  the  men 
were  of  the  best.  The  ground  was  frozen  and  covered  with 
snow,  so  that  they  were  soon  on  the  track  of  the  coach. 
They  rode  into  the  night  and  they  rode  hard.  Near  Mill 
wood  they  overtook  the  coach  which  was  making  the  best 
time  possible.  Some  of  the  officers  captured  had  been  made 
to  ride  the  horses  before  the  coach.  The  pursuing  party 
in  firing  had  to  be  careful  for  fear  they  should  shoot  these 
officers.  Jones  ordered  his  men  to  use  their  sabres.  The 
fight  was  a  running  one,  all  on  a  keen  gallop,  sabres  against 
carbines  and  pistols,  but  it  was  soon  over.  The  captured 
officers  were  retaken  with  the  stage  and  teams.  The  guer 
rillas  suffered  the  loss  of  several,  killed  or  badly  wounded, 
but  in  the  darkness  it  was  impossible  to  tell  what  their  exact 
loss  was.  Lieutenant  Laverty  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
ankle.  This  wound  proved  so  troublesome  that  it  rendered 
him  incapable  of  efficient  service,  and  two  months  later  he 
resigned.  He  had  shown  himself  a  brave  and  capable  officer. 


212  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  9th  Captain  Hertzog  went  out  and  encountered  the 
enemy.  He  attacked  promptly,  capturing  a  lieutenant  and 
a  few  men  and  horses.  Foraging  and  scouting  parties  were 
out  constantly. 

The  25th  a  force  of  the  enemy  came  down  the  Back 
road  and  crossed  to  the  pike  near  Kernstown.  Our  pickets 
were  beyond  this  junction  of  the  cross  road  with  the  pike. 
The  Confederates  came  upon  the  pickets  from  the  rear  and 
surprised  them,  wounding  two  and  capturing  eight.  It 
was  near  night  when  this  occurred.  As  soon  as  the  report 
reached  camp,  Captain  Passegger  with  G  and  L  went  in 
pursuit.  He  overtook  the  Confederates  beyond  Fisher's 
Hill.  They  were  in  some  woods  eating  breakfast.  With  a 
startling  yell  he  burst  in  upon  them,  scattering  them  through 
the  woods.  He  rescued  the  prisoners  and  helped  himself 
to  what  was  left  of  their  breakfast.  He  then  took  the  road 
to  the  north  and  routed  a  picket  post,  then  returned  by  the 
Back  road,  reaching  camp  the  next  morning. 

After  Passegger  had  gone,  two  battalions  of  the  Thir 
teenth  Pennsylvania  were  sent  to  aid  him  if  necessary,  one 
some  time  in  advance  of  the  other.  When  the  foremost  of 
these  reached  Fisher's  Hill,  Passegger  was  on  his  return. 
But  the  battalion  went  on  toward  Woodstock,  picking  up  a 
few  prisoners.  With  these  they  had  come  back  to  Strasburg 
where  they  met  the  other  battalion,  and  both  halted.  A  large 
force  of  the  Confederates  had  followed.  Now  they  drove 
the  rear  guard  in  confusion  upon  the  main  body.  This 
threw  them  all  into  confusion.  The  enemy  made  a  bold 
attack  and  most  of  the  Thirteenth  fell  back  rapidly  toward 
Winchester.  A  few  of  the  officers  did  their  best  to  rally 
their  men,  but  the  most  of  the  men  had  become  panic 
stricken.  They  lost  twelve  killed  and  nearly  a  hundred 
wounded  and  captured. 

This  was  soon  reported  at  Winchester  and  the  greater 


WINCHESTER.  213 

part  of  the  First  New  York  was  sent  out.  They  were  told 
that  Passegger  and  his  men  had  all  been  captured.  The 
enemy,  fearing  that  a  large  force  would  be  sent  against  them, 
had  hastily  withdrawn  to  Woodstock. 

While  these  events  were  taking  place  on  the  Valley  pike, 
Company  B  had  made  a  long  scout  among  the  mountains  to 
Capon  springs,  capturing  a  noted  spy.  They  learned  that 
Monroe  Edwards,  a  bold  horse  thief  who  had  been  trouble 
some  while  they  were  at  Springfield,  had  been  hanged  at 
Romney.  The  28th  the  Thirteenth  Pennsylvania  and  a  bat 
talion  of  the  First  New  York  went  beyond  Strasburg,  but 
found  no  enemy. 

March  2,  B  and  F  went  up  the  pike  to  Middletown, 
then  across  to  the  Front  Royal  road,  and  nearly  to  that  place. 
They  w^ere  getting  the  lay  of  the  land.  From  a  high  hill 
they  looked  down  on  the  "meeting  of  the  waters,"  the  unit 
ing  of  the  Forks  of  the  Shenandoah.  Beyond  was  Front 
Royal,  and  off  to  the  left  Manassas  Gap.  Mountain  ranges 
extended  away  to  the  south.  To  the  north  was  a 'new  view 
of  the  wide  expanse  of  the  great  Valley.  Riding  back  along 
the  river  they  were  exposed  to  the  fire  of  some  sharp  shooters 
among  the  rocks  of  the  Blue  Ridge  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river,  but  no  harm  was  done. 

At  ii  the  night  of  the  4th  the  regiment  started  out. 
It  was  clear  with  a  full  moon  and  very  cold.  Took  the 
road  on  the  other  side  of  North  Mountain.  At  sunrise 
crossed  the  mountain  west  of  Strasburg,  expecting  to  get 
in  the  rear  of  a  body  of  Confederates  and  drive  them  this 
way,  where  the  Thirteenth  Pennsylvania  with  some  artillery 
and  infantry  would  be  waiting  for  them.  Found  only  some 
pickets.  The  enemy  had  received  warning  and  disappeared. 

The  loth  Colonel  McReyonlds  came  from  Martinsburg 
with  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  and  some  artillery 
and  infantry.  The  I3th  General  Elliott  assumed  command 


214  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  the  cavalry,  and  issued  some  strict  orders.  He  came  from 
the  west  where  he  had  done  good  service.  The  i6th  more 
reinforcements  came.  The  24th  the  regiment  set  out  for 
Wardensville,  returning  the  next  day.  Imboden  was  sup 
posed  to  be  there,  but  he  was  not  to  be  found. 

The  27th  at  morning  roll  call  orders  were  read  to  move 
to  Berryville,  eleven  miles  east  of  Winchester.  The  com 
fortable  huts  and  stables  that  the  men  had  taken  so  much 
pains  to  build  were  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Twelfth  Penn 
sylvania  cavalry. 

We  had  found  Winchester  an  interesting  place.  Offi 
cers  and  men  had  made  some  pleasant  acquaintances  among 
the  people,  who  were  generally  high  toned  and  honorable, 
notwithstanding  their  sympathies  were  with  the  South. 

Many  of  the  men  often  attended  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Graham,  a  northern 
man,  thoroughly  loyal  and  so  highly  respected  that  he  was 
never  disturbed  on  account  of  his  opinions. 

Here  was  a  colored  church  that  some  of  the  men  occa 
sionally  attended.  The  colored  pastor  was  a  man  of  much 
ability,  and  much  respected. 

It  was  with  regret  that  the  regiment  packed  up  and  took 
up  the  line  of  march  for  a  new  location. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
BERRYVILLE. 

BLRRYVILLE  was  in  Clarke  county,  named  after  Gen 
eral  George  Rogers  Clarke  who  took  possession  of 
the  northwest  territory  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  It  is  one 
of  the  best  counties  in  the  state.  The  town  was  laid  out  in 
1798  on  land  belonging  in  part  to  William  Berry.  One  of 
the  first  trustees  was  General  Daniel  Morgan,  whose  home 
for  a  time  was  half  a  mile  north  of  the  town.  He  named 
it  "Soldier's  Rest."  Later  he  made  his  residence  near 
White  Post.  This  was  built  for  him  by  Hessian  prisoners 
who  after  the  war  preferred  to  remain  in  this  country. 

General  Morgan  was  not  always  a  man  of  peace  after 
the  war  was  fought  through.  He  had  so  many  fights  with 
his  neighbors  that  the  place  was  given  the  name  Battle- 
town. 

Half  a  mile  from  Soldier's  Rest,  by  a  large  spring  flow 
ing  out  of  the  rock,  used  to  stand  a  log  hut,  twelve  feet 
square,  in  which  Washington  stayed  while  surveying  the 
land  of  Lord  Fairfax,  whose  home  was  Greenway  Court 
a  few  miles  to  the  south.  Here,  it  was  said,  he  kept  more 
than  a  hundred  slaves  to  work  his  lands.  He  was  fond  of 
hunting  parties,  that  would  range  the  country  for  many 
miles.  Game  at  that  time  was  abundant.  Washington 
often  was  one  of  those  hunting  parties,  and  it  was  said  that 
in  Powell's  Fort  valley  he  had  his  first  boyish  love  affair. 
It  was  said  that  the  girl  was  killed  in  an  Indian  raid. 

215 


216  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  force  at  Berryville  was  made  up  of  the  First  New 
York  cavalry,  Alexander's  Baltimore  battery,  the  Sixty- 
seventh  Pennsylvania,  Twelfth  West  Virginia,  and  the 
Sixth  Maryland  volunteer  infantry.  All  these  made  up  the 
Third  brigade  of  the  Second  division  of  the  Eighth  corps. 
General  Schenck  at  Baltimore  commanded  the  corps;  Gen 
eral  Milroy  at  Winchester,  the  division;  Colonel  McRey- 
nolds  the  brigade;  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Schickfuss  the 
regiment.  Hinton  was  adjutant  of  the  regiment  and  Ste 
venson  A.  A.  A.  G.  of  the  brigade. 

We  were  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  raids  through  the 
gaps  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  East  of  the  Ridge  was  the  cam 
paigning  ground  of  Major  John  S.  Mosby.  His  partisan 
rangers  stayed  at  their  homes  when  it  suited  their  con 
venience,  but  would  gather  at  their  leader's  call  whenever 
there  seemed  to  be  an  opportunity  to  carry  out  some  daring 
enterprise. 

Supplies  had  to  be  brought  from  Harper's  Ferry  about 
twenty-five  miles  by  wagons.  For  hay  and  straw  the  men 
foraged  around  among  the  fine  farms  of  the  county. 

The  night  of  the  3Oth  there  was  an  alarm  and  a  call 
to  "saddle  up."  There  was  a  prompt  response,  but  nothing 
serious.  Scouting  parties  scoured  the  country.  So  anxi 
ous  were  the  men  to  go  on  these  expeditions  that  they  would 
go  to  the  orderly  sergeant  days  in  advance  and  ask  to  be 
placed  on  the  next  detail. 

April  4,  many  of  the  officers  and  men  went  to  Win 
chester  to  witness  a  general  review  of  the  troops  there. 

The  night  of  the  8th  the  pickets  on  the  Millwood  road 
were  attacked.  Two  men  were  captured,  but  released  on 
parole.  The  night  of  the  I2th  Lieutenant  Woodruff  with 
Company  F  encountered  the  enemy  on  the  road  toward 
Snicker's  ferry.  He  drove  them,  but  lost  Charles  Young 
killed  and  Clark  D.  Reynolds  captured.  The  I4th  a  part 


BERRYVILLE.  217 

of  H  under  Lieutenant  Martindale  went  to  the  river  at 
Berry's  ferry.  Some  of  the  men  crossed  the  river  and  rode 
on  a  short  distance.  They  met  more  than  their  own  num 
ber  and  retired.  The  enemy  followed  to  the  river  when 
those  who  had  remained  on  this  side  fired  upon  them,  kill 
ing  one.  The  rest  withdrew. 

The  1 4th  all  the  regiment  in  camp  was  ordered  out  for 
drill  by  the  lieutenant  colonel.  It  was  one  of  the  finest 
drills  the  regiment  ever  had.  The  evolutions  by  battalion, 
squadron  and  company,  under  this  skilled  officer,  were  per 
fect.  Returning  to  camp  the  men  were  dismayed  to  learn 
that  an  order  had  been  received  dismissing  the  lieutenant 
colonel  from  the  service.  It  was  understood  that  this  was 
because  of  charges  of  some  irregularity  connected  with  the 
expense  incurred  in  organizing  the  regiment  in  New  York 
in  the  summer  of  1861.  It  was  generally  believed  by  the 
men  throughout  the  regiment  that  he  was  not  guilty  of  any 
intentional  irregularity.  He  was  regarded  as  a  thoroughly 
honest  man.  He  had  been  asked  with  others  to  sign  a 
statement  that  was  presented  to  him  by  persons  who  knew 
more  about  the  matter  than  he  did.  In  reply  to  some  care 
ful  questions  he  was  assured  that  it  was  "all  right"  and  that 
his  signing  was  only  a  necessary  formality.  There  were 
ambitious  officers  who  were  slightly  jealous  of  him,  and  he 
had  some  enemies  not  immediately  connected  with  the 
regiment. 

He  appealed  to  the  war  department  and  to  the  Presi 
dent.  The  matter  was  investigated.  His  evident  frankness 
was  in  his  favor,  and  he  was  assured  that  he  was  regarded 
as  innocent  of  any  intentional  wrong  doing.  But  this  in 
vestigation  had  taken  time. 

In  the  meantime,  as  soon  as  the  order  of  dismissal  had 
been  made  public,  the  senior  major,  who  had  never  yet  done 
anything  to  the  credit  of  the  service,  except  to  lead  a  harm- 


218  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

less  charge,  instead  of  generously  allowing  time  for  his 
superior  to  have  a  chance  to  be  reinstated,  telegraphed  to 
political  friends  at  Washington  to  have  him  ordered  there 
at  once.  This  was  done.  What  influence  he  had  both  here 
and  at  Albany  he  used  for  all  he  could  get  out  of  it.  And 
when  the  lieutenant  colonel  was  exonerated  and  would  have 
been  restored,  the  position  was  filled. 

It  was  sometimes  customary  for  the  officers  of  the  line 
to  express  a  preference  for  an  appointment  of  a  field  officer, 
and  a  movement  of  this  kind  was  made.  But  the  governor 
of  the  state  had  a  chance  to  give  a  reward  for  a  former 
political  favor,  and  the  appointment  was  made  regardless 
of  the  interests  of  the  service. 

There  had  been  several  promotions  in  the  line  that  were 
recognized  as  having  been  deserved.  The  appointment  as 
major  of  one  who  had  never  belonged  to  the  regiment  at  all 
created  some  dissatisfaction.  This  was  Timothy  Quinn,  of 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  vice  Ogle  discharged.  But  he  soon  proved 
himself  so  competent  that  he  possessed  the  confidence  of  the 
entire  regiment. 

The  colonel  had  appointed  his  son,  who  had  "entered 
the  service"  as  clerk  to  the  sutler  Franklin,  as  second  lieu 
tenant,  and  then  to  first  lieutenant  and  regimental  commis 
sary.  This  appointment  was  the  subject  of  criticism,  but 
"Frank"  was  a  good  fellow  and  did  his  work  well — and  it 
was  not  an  easy  position.  He  afterward  served  as  commis 
sary  on  the  staff  of  the  brigade  and  the  division,  and  made 
hosts  of  friends. 

On  the  afternoon  of  April  21,  a  scouting  party  went 
out  with  Captain  Bailey  in  command.  There  were  forty 
men  detailed  from  several  companies.  Lieutenant  Wyckoff 
was  in  the  lead.  The  route  was  toward  Millwood  ferry; 
then  around  toward  the  right;  then  the  party  followed  the 
narrow  roads  until  it  became  dark  and  they  were  near  to 


BERRYVILLE.  219 

the  river  again.  Here  was  a  brief  halt  and  the  men  were 
told  to  eat  anything  they  had.  As  they  had  not  expected 
to  be  out  long  and  had  not  brought  anything  with  them, 
this  part  of  the  service  was  omitted. 

After  a  short  rest  they  moved  on  up  the  river  road, 
being  told  to  make  as  little  noise  as  possible.  A  short  ride 
and  another  halt.  WyckofT  came  to  the  front  and  asked  for 
a  volunteer  to  cross  the  river  with  him  in  a  small  row  boat. 
Corporal  Anthony  Fiala  of  Company  E  responded.  The 
night  was  very  dark.  The  two  went  down  to  the  boat.  The 
lieutenant  told  Fiala  to  go  into  the  front  of  the  boat  and 
lie  down  with  his  carbine  ready  to  fire  at  a  moment's  no 
tice,  he  himself  taking  the  oars.  Nearing  the  opposite  side, 
Fiala  was  told  to  catch  hold  of  a  limb  of  a  tree  that  hung 
over  the  water. 

WyckofT  asked  in  a  low  voice  :  "Are  you  there,  Sam  ?" 
And  Sam  answered:  "Yes,  massa,  I'se  here.  Everything 
is  all  right,  and  I  want  to  see  you."  A  few  minutes'  low 
talk  and  the  boat  recrossed  the  river.  The  men  mounted 
their  horses,  and  dividing  into  two  parties,  forded  the  river 
and  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge.  Precaution  had  been  taken  to 
avoid  any  surprise  in  case  the  colored  man  proved  unreli 
able,  or  his  scheme  was  discovered  by  the  enemy.  Artillery 
and  infantry  were  to  protect  the  crossing.  The  two  parties, 
making  a  detour,  surrounded  the  house  to  which  they  had 
been  directed  by  the  colored  man.  They  Strapped  at  the  door. 
There  was  some  commotion  within.  The  inmates  were  di 
rected  to  open  the  door,  and  warned  that  the  house 
would  be  burned  if  any  shots  were  fired.  The  notorious 
Captain  Leopold  and  seven  of  his  partisan  rangers  who  were 
staying  there  for  the  night,  were  taken  captives. 

The  morning  of  the  25th  orders  were  received  by 
signals  from  Winchester  for  a  large  detail  to  be  ready  with 
four  days'  rations.  The  detail  was  soon  ready.  Specific 


220  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

instructions  were  soon  received  by  mounted  orderlies. 
While  waiting  in  line  there  arose  a  question  as  to  who  was 
to  command.  The  lieutenant  colonel,  in  whom  all  had  en 
tire  confidence,  was  gone.  Adams  was  the  ranking  major, 
but  the  men  had  little  confidence  in  him.  Quinn  was  new 
in  his  office,  and  the  men  did  not  yet  know  him  well.  Hark- 
ins  was  the  senior  captain,  and  recommended  for  major, 
but  others  had  been  promoted  over  him.  It  was  suspected 
through  the  line  that  there  was  an  unseemly  dispute  among 
the  officers.  Finally  the  column  was  on  the  road  toward 
Winchester.  Harkins  claimed  that  he  had  received  orders 
to  take  command,  with  the  majors  going  along  as  volunteers. 
But  Adams,  who  was  in  favor  with  General  Milroy,  sent 
word  to  him  asking  that  he  would  order  Harkins  to  report 
to  him  under  arrest.  Harkins  soon  received  the  order  and 
went  to  the  general's  headquarters  to  report. 

General  Milroy  was  a  tall,  somewhat  spare  man,  with 
a  high,  sloping  forehead,  sharp  features,  bristling  sandy 
hair  and  beard  just  tinged  with  gray.  He  had  energy 
enough,  but  it  was  of  the  extremely  nervous,  excitable  kind. 
He  was  generally  out  of  patience  with  something  or  other, 
and  when  in  such  a  mood  it  seemed  difficult  for  him  to  treat 
one  civilly.  In  a  towering  rage  he  abused  Harkins  for 
presuming  to  report  to  him  under  arrest,  having  his  arms 
on!  The  captain  mildly  replied,  "Excuse  me,  general. 
Being  under  arrest  is  a  new  experience  to  me,"  at  the  same 
time  unclasping  his  belt  and  laying  aside  his  arms.  He 
was  ordered  back  to  camp  to  remain  under  arrest,  with  the 
pleasant  assurance  that  he  would  be  court-martialed.  In 
the  stirring  times  that  followed  the  court-martial  was  not 
called. 

Stayed  that  night  in  the  old  camp  at  Winchester  now 
occupied  by  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania,  that  regiment  being 
absent  on  a  scout.  At  daybreak  the  march  was  resumed. 


BERRYVILLE.  221 

Sunday  dinner  was  eaten  at  Pembroke  Springs.  Reached 
Wardensville  at  night,  twenty-seven  miles.  Here  was  Gen 
eral  Elliott  with  his  brigade.  It  \vas  an  expedition  in  force 
against  a  large  number  of  Confederates,  but  they  had  fallen 
back. 

Forded  Lost  river  and  pushed  on  to  Moorefield,  thirty- 
one  miles.  The  enemy  had  left  a  little  while  before.  At 
ten  p.m.  the  homeward  march  was  begun  and  was  con 
tinued  all  night.  At  Strasburg  the  next  day.  Some  Penn 
sylvania  cavalry  had  had  a  fight,  losing  twenty  men.  But 
the  enemy  were  beyond  successful  pursuit.  Reached 
Berryville  late  at  night  of  the  29th,  after  a  march  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  miles — a  tedious  march  over  rough  moun 
tain  roads.  The  retiring  enemy  had  given  no  opportunity 
to  win  a  victory. 

Up  to  the  early  part  of  April  there  had  been  snow 
storms.  But  now  it  was  spring.  Fruit  trees  were  in 
bloom,  and  all  the  country  was  a  pleasant  land.  Hooker 
was  moving,  and  there  were  signs  of  activity  in  all  depart 
ments. 

May  3  was  a  quiet  Sunday.  Many  officers  and  men 
when  in  camp  and  off  duty  were  in  the  habit  of  attending 
church.  There  were  four  churches  and  some  excellent 
preachers  in  Berryville.  They  were  not  Union  men,  but 
they  were  faithful  in  their  ministry,  and  did  many  acts  of 
kindness  to  the  soldiers  or  any  one  in  need. 

A  quite  regular  feature  at  morning  church  service  was 
the  attendance  of  one  of  the  captains.  He  always  came 
after  the  service  was  well  begun.  With  his  tall  form  ar 
rayed  in  his  well  brushed  uniform;  his  leg-long  boots  as 
shining  as  his  boy  Jack's  face;  his  mustache  waxed  into 
two  long  horizontal  points;  his  crimson  sash  around  his 
slender  waist;  his  Mexican  spurs  rattling  at  his  heels,  he 
strode  up  the  aisle  to  a  front  pew  and  took  his  seat  with  an 


222  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ill-concealed  consciousness  that,  equally  with  the  minister, 
he  was  an  object  of  respectful  observation. 

The  morning  of  May  4  a  part  of  the  regiment  went 
out  with  five  days'  rations  to  Romney  and  Moorefield.  The 
5th  a  strong  force  went  out  from  Winchester. 

The  night  of  the  same  day  a  party  went  out  with  Lieu 
tenants  Boyd  and  Wyckoff.  With  them  went  several  com 
panies  of  the  6/th  Pennsylvania  infantry.  Boats  had  been 
captured  and  brought  to  Snickers'  ferry.  In  these  the  in 
fantry  crossed  the  river.  Mosby's  men  were  numerous  be 
yond  the  Blue  Ridge  in  London  county,  and  a  plan  was  laid 
to  capture  some  of  them.  The  next  day  the  cavalry  went 
toward  Upperville  before  they  succeeded  in  finding  the  men 
they  wanted.  The  infantry  were  to  remain  concealed  along 
the  roadside,  and  the  cavalry  were  to  provoke  Mosby's  men 
into  a  pursuit,  when  they  would  be  taken  care  of  by  the  in 
fantry.  Mosby's  men  were  not  prompt  in  pursuing.  In 
some  long  range  skirmishing  Charles  Glossop  of  C  was 
wounded.  Lieutenant  Hawkins  of  the  6th  Maryland,  who 
had  gone  along  as  a  volunteer,  was  also  wounded. 
Finally  the  enemy  mustered  force  and  courage,  and 
came  on  in  a  headlong  charge,  our  cavalry  falling  back. 
Corporal  Snyder  of  C  had  his  horse  wounded,  so  that  he 
could  not  keep  up  with  his  comrades.  As  the  enemy  came 
upon  him  he  slid  off  his  horse,  and  lay  still  by  the  roadside 
until  they  had  passed,  when  he  sprang  over  the  fence  and 
escaped,  slightly  wounded. 

The  plan  was  working  well.  One  had  come  back  to 
notify  the  infantry  that  the  Confederates  were  coming  on 
after  our  fleeing  cavalrymen.  The  infantry  were  nervous 
with  excitement  and  instead  of  waiting  till  our  cavalrymen 
had  passed,  they  fired  a  full  volley  at  them  while  passing. 
The  fire  intended  for  the  enemy  was  directed  against  our 
own  men.  It  was  a  fearful  blunder.  Robert  C.  Vorhies 


BERRYVILLE.  223 

of  H  was  killed;  James  I.  Gleeson  of  B,  Lieutenants  Boyd 
and  Wyckoff  were  wounded.  That  more  were  not  killed 
was  due  to  the  wild,  excited  firing  of  the  infantry.  The 
pursuers  wheeled  and  retired,  escaping  the  fate  intended  for 
them. 

Gleeson  died  the  next  morning.  Glossop  died  a  few 
weeks  later.  They  were  good  men,  cheerful  and  ready  for 
any  duty.  Gleeson  \vas  a  general  favorite.  He  was  buried 
two  days  later,  with  impressive  services.  His  good  mare 
Bess  followed  her  dead  master  to  his  grave,  seeming  to 
mourn  as  sincerely  as  his  comrades. 

The  high  hopes  that  had  been  entertained  of  Hooker's 
movements  had  been  dispelled,  and  the  men  were  wonder 
ing — ' ' What  next  ?" 

There  was  a  representative  of  the  regiment  at  Chan- 
cellorsville.  Lieutenant  Clifford  Thomson  had  been  de 
tached  as  an  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  General  Pleasan- 
ton,  and  was  engaged  in  the  fight  at  Hazel  Grove  the  even 
ing  of  May  2nd.  After  the  Eleventh  corps  had  been  driven 
back  Pleasanton  had  twenty-two  guns  in  position  to  meet 
Jackson's  attack. 

It  was  dusk  when  his  men  swarmed  out  of  the  woods  for  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  our  front  (our  rear  ten  minutes  before).  They 
came  on  in  line  five  and  six  deep,  with  but  one  flag — a  Union  flag 
dropped  by  the  Eleventh  corps.  I  suspected  deception  and  was  ready 
for  it.  They  called  out  not  to  shoot,  they  were  friends. 

Pleasanton  rode  from  gun  to  gun  directing  the  gunners  to  aim 
low,  not  to  get  excited,  to  make  every  shot  tell.  Recovering  from 
the  disorder  into  which  Keenan's  charge  had  thrown  them,  the  enemy 
could  be  seen  forming  line  of  battle  in  the  edge  of  woods  now  in  our 
front.  They  were  scarcely  two  hundred  yards  distant ;  yet  such  was 
the  gloom  that  they  could  not  be  clearly  distinguished.  General  Plea 
santon  was  about  to  give  the  order  to  fire,  when  a  sergeant  at  one  of 
the  guns  said :  "General,  aren't  those  our  troops  ?  I  see  our  colors 
in  the  line."  This  was  true,  for  where  he  pointed  our  colors  could 
be  seen — trophies  picked  up  on  the  field.  Pleasanton  turned  to  Lieuten 
ant  Thomson  and  said :  "Mr.  Thomson,  ride  out  there  and  see  who 


224  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

those  people  are."  Thomson  rode  out  between  the  guns  and  galloped 
to  within  thirty  or  forty  yards  of  them.  All  along  the  line  they  called 
out  to  him:  "Come  on,  we  are  friends."  It  was  quite  dark  and  he 
could  not  make  out  their  uniforms,  but  he  could  see  three  Union  flags. 
These  caused  him  to  .hesitate.  He  came  to  a  halt,  peering  into  the 
darkness  to  make  sure,  when  a  bullet  whistled  by  him,  and  then  came 
the  rebel  yell.  The  line  charged  up  the  hill  toward  the  guns  and 
Thomson  led  it.  Lying  down  upon  his  horse's  neck  he  gave  him  the 
spur,  and  the  yells  of  the  Johnnies  behind  further  stimulated  him  so 
that  horse  and  man  got  over  the  ground  in  a  lively  manner.  But 
with  the  report  of  the  first  shot  fired  at  Thomson,  Pleasanton  had 
opened  fire  and  those  twenty-two  guns  belched  forth  destruction  at 
a  fearfully  rapid  rate.  Thomson  kept  his  eye  on  the  guns,  guiding  his 
horse  between  the  flashes,  and  was  soon  on  the  safe  side  of  them.  It 
was  load  and  fire  at  will  for  some  minutes ;  the  enemy  was  mowed 
down  in  heaps.  After  it  was  all  over  Thomson  rode  up  to  Pleasanton 
and  said,  "General,  those  people  out  there  are  rebels."  Pleasanton 
replied,  as  he  held  out  his  hand,  "Thomson,  I  never  expected  to  see 
you  again.  I  thought  if  they  didn't  kill  you  I  should,  but  that  was 
no  time  to  stop  for  one  man." — Battles  and  Leaders. 

Thomson  finally  became  a  major  on  Pleasanton' s  staff. 

The  1 2th  Captain  Boyd  with  a  hundred  men  went  to 
Leesburg,  picking  up  a  few  prisoners.  The  next  day  he 
saw  a  number  at  safe  distances.  Near  Upperville  fifty  or 
more  seemed  ready  to  dispute  his  way.  He  planned  to 
capture  them  by  sending  half  his  men  around  to  their  rear. 
But  the  plan  did  not  work.  He  charged  upon  them  and 
they  fled.  He  pursued  them  several  miles.  They  were 
Mosby's  men.  One  of  them,  supposed  to  be  Mosby  him 
self,  would  stay  behind  to  get  a  few  shots  at  his  pursuers, 
then  unconcernedly  ride  on  to  overtake  the  rest.  Several 
times  he  did  this.  One  of  his  shots  killed  the  horse  of  Mc- 
Kinley  of  B.  Another  wounded  Patrick  Donnelly  of  C, 
who  had  to  be  left  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Fletcher.  Here 
he  was  well  cared  for.  The  family  at  times  sent  into  camp 
for  medicines  for  him.  Mosby  himself  called  several  times 
to  see  him  and  treated  him  with  the  greatest  kindness.  After 
the  war  Donnelly  made  his  home  in  this  neighborhood. 


BERRYVILLE.  225 

Mosby  was  a  dangerous  man  in  the  field.  More  than 
twenty  years  after  the  war  the  writer  met  him  as  an  invited 
guest  at  a  banquet  of  the  Wisconsin  Commandery  of  the 
Loyal  Legion,  and  found  him  a  quiet,  mild-mannered 
gentleman. 

The  night  of  the  I5th  a  large  party  of  the  enemy 
crossed  the  mountain  and  the  river,  and  leaving  their  horses 
at  some  distance,  flanked  the  pickets  and  came  into  Charles- 
town.  They  surprised  and  captured  Captain  Dyck's  com 
pany  of  Maryland  cavalry  stationed  there,  and  hurried  their 
captives  away.  The  report  of  this  soon  reached  Berryville. 
Major  Adams  was  at  once  sent  out  with  a  strong  force  to 
intercept  the  enemy.  This  force  was  to  cross  the  river  at 
Berry's  ferry  and  pass  through  Ashby's  Gap.  Lieutenant 
Vermilya  was  in  charge  of  the  advance.  Near  the  ferry 
the  advance  was  attacked  in  the  rear.  A  patrol  had  been 
sent  every  day  from  Berryville  down  to  the  fords.  Some  of 
Mosby's  men  had  learned  of  this,  and  had  crossed  the  river 
and  concealed  themselves  in  the  woods.  Supposing  Ver- 
milya's  advance  to  be  this  patrol  they  fell  in  behind  it.  They 
were  superior  to  Vermilya' s  men  in  numbers,  but  he  faced 
about  and  fought  them. 

The  noise  of  the  fighting  reached  the  main  body,  who 
began  to  press  forward  to  take  a  hand  in  the  fight.  They 
were  held  back  by  at  least  one  of  the  captains  who  did  not 
seem  in  a  hurry  to  get  any  nearer  the  fighting  than  he  then 
,was.  The  individuality  of  the  men  in  the  ranks  asserted 
itself.  Williamson  of  F  pulled  out  of  the  column  and  pushed 
ahead,  followed  by  a  large  part  of  the  company.  All  of 
them  were  at  the  front  in  short  order. 

Goubleman  of  the  advance  did  some  heroic  fighting. 
The  rebels  fought  desperately,  but  finding  themselves  be 
tween  two  fires,  many  started  to  get  away.  Goubleman  and 
others  with  him  were  after  them.  Williamson  and  his  men 


226  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

hurried  along  the  road  up  stream,  passing  Goubleman  and 
taking  a  few  more  of  the  fugitives. 

Coming  back  they  saw  a  horse  standing  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river.  A  Confederate  officer,  supposed  to  be 
Captain  Meade  of  Early's  staff,  had  been  killed  with  the 
sabre  by  Ed  Goubleman  while  crossing  the  river.  This 
might  be  his  horse.  The  men  halted  opposite  the  horse. 
Verrinder  of  H  took  off  his  clothes,  swam  the  river,  and 
brought  the  horse  back. 

There  were  twenty-three  rebels  killed  or  captured. 
Among  the  prisoners  was  one  who  was  fearfully  slashed 
across  the  face  writh  a  sabre.  After  a  hand-to-hand  fight 
with  Corporal  Tone  of  Company  D,  he  had  thrown  up  his 
hands  in  token  of  surrender.  A  few  minutes  later,  seeing 
Tone  off  his  guard,  he  drew  his  revolver  and  shot  Tone 
in  the  side,  but  inflicting  only  a  surface  wound.  Tone  went 
at  him  again,  making  a  ghastly  wound.  "I  surrender !"  he 
cried  again.  Tone  who  had  become  warmed  up  with  in 
dignation  replied  with  some  emphasis,  "—  — !  I  don't 
want  you  to  surrender!" 

A  few  of  our  men  and  several  horses  were  wounded. 
Major  Quinn  in  all  this  affair  proved  himself  a  capable  and 
fearless  officer. 

The  prisoners  were  sent  back  to  Berryville,  while  the 
column  went  on  across  the  mountain.  At  Paris  they  met  a 
detachment  that  had  been  sent  out  from  Winchester  on  the 
same  errand  as  that  on  which  they  had  gone.  This  detach 
ment  was  made  up  of  men  from  the  Third  West  Virginia 
and  the  Thirteenth  Pennsylvania  cavalry.  They  had  en 
countered  the  body  that  had  made  the  raid  into  Charles- 
town;  had  retaken  more  than  fifty  of  those  who  had  been 
captured,  and  some  of  the  raiders.  Adams'  party  returned 
with  a  few  more  prisoners  picked  up  near  Upperville. 

The   2Oth   several   detachments   were   ordered   out   in 


BERRYVILLE.  227 

different  directions.  Notwithstanding  the  danger,  volun 
teers  freely  offered  themselves,  and  men  who  were  not  de 
tailed  begged  that  they  might  be  allowed  to  go  along.  But 
none  of  these  detachments  fell  in  with  any  enemy. 

The  22nd  Peers  and  Burd,  Company  B,  who  had  been 
captured  with  a  wagon  near  Springfield  the  fall  before,  re 
turned  to  the  company,  exchanged. 

The  23rd  was  devoted  to  horse  racing.  A  fine  race 
course  had  been  laid  out,  and  hurdles  arranged  for  exercises 
in  jumping.  The  exercises  had  been  widely  advertised. 
Prominent  citizens  from  the  country  had  been  invited.  Gen 
eral  Elliott  and  his  staff  and  many  other  officers  from  Win 
chester,  Harper's  Ferry  and  Martinsburg  were  present. 

Some  fleet  horses  were  entered  and  the  competition 
was  spirited.  There  was  some  good  riding.  Favorites 
were  tumultuously  cheered.  The  exercises  in  the  field  con 
cluded  with  an  amusing  affair,  an  "Irish  race,"  in  which  the 
prize  was  for  slowness.  Only  the  slowest  horses  in  the 
command  were  allowed  to  compete,  and  no  man  was  per 
mitted  to  ride  his  own  horse.  It  took  a  long  time  for  these 
old,  lame,  and  halt  chargers  to  get  around  the  course.  The 
interest  grew  into  intense  excitement  when  all  but  two  had 
passed  the  goal.  The  great  multitude  filled  up  the  width  of 
the  course.  Around  each  horse  was  a  surging  mass  of  men, 
interested  in  having  the  other  horse  win.  Those  around 
each  horse  pulled,  pushed,  crowded,  almost  lifted  him  from 
his  feet  in  their  zeal  that  the  other  might  be  hindmost.  A 
long  time  it  took  to  get  over  the  last  few  rods  of  the  course. 
The  distance  was  finally  reduced  to  a  few  feet,  and  at  last 
amid  uproarious  cheering,  one  horse  was  declared  the  win 
ner  by  a  few  inches. 

Of  course  there  was  a  banquet  in  the  evening,  that  was 
continued  far  into  the  night,  at  which  there  were  speeches 


228  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

and  songs,  and  toasts  were  drunk.     It  was  said  that  some  of 
the  officers  had  some  difficulty  in  finding  their  way  home. 

The  5th  of  June  Davis  and  James  of  C  were  fired  upon 
from  men  in  ambush,  scarcely  two  miles  out  of  town. 
Davis  was  killed,  and  James  taken  prisoner.  After  several 
days  he  escaped,  and  after  a  weary  time  found  his  way  back. 

The  6th  a  train  of  six  wagons  of  an  infantry  regiment 
coming  from  Winchester  was  attacked  near  the  crossing  of 
the  Opequon,  by  seventy-five  men.  The  wagons  were  left 
in  the  road,  but  the  teams  and  guard  of  fifteen  men  were 
taken.  Major  Quinn  went  after  the  capturing  party,  but 
they  had  too  much  of  a  start  and  were  beyond  reach. 

The  loth  Boyd  and  Bailey  with  a  hundred  or  more  men 
went  across  the  river  and  the  mountain.  They  thought 
they  had  reliable  information  that  might  lead  to  the  capture 
of  some  of  Mosby's  men — perhaps  Mosby  himself.  It  was 
after  midnight  when  they  conducted  their  operations.  They 
would  surround  a  house  and  then  demand  admission.  They 
succeeded  in  getting  a  few  suspected  persons.  Mosby  was 
supposed  to  be  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Hathaway.  This 
house  was  surrounded,  and  after  some  delay  and  consider 
able  talk  with  an  inmate  at  an  upper  window,  entrance  was 
allowed.  No  objections  were  made  to  a  search.  Mrs. 
Mosby  was  there,  and  there  were  indications  that  Mosby 
himself  had  been  there.  But  he  was  not  to  be  found.  There 
were  horses  in  the  barns,  both  here  and  at  other  places,  with 
accoutrements  that  indicated  military  service.  These  were 
appropriated  as  lawful  spoils.  Mosby's  own  sorrel  mare 
was  taken  by  Sergeant  Forkey.  She  was  one  of  the  best 
bred  and  fleetest  animals  in  the  regiment.  Forkey  named 
her  "Lady  Mosby."  He  was  an  aggressive,  pushing  fellow, 
and  he  needed  a  fast  horse  as  much  as  anyone.  More  than 
twenty  of  these  horses  with  their  equipments  were  brought 
in. 


BERRYVILLE.  229 

It  was  afterward  reported  that  Mosby  was  in  the  house 
when  it  was  surrounded,  and  in  the  darkness  escaped  from 
a  window,  and  was  concealed  among  the  branches  of  a  large 
tree  standing  close  to  the  house. 

A  hundred  men  under  these  same  officers  rode  all  the 
way  through  the  regions  over  which  Mosby  and  his  men 
roamed,  all  the  way  to  Fairfax  Court  House.  Mosby  had 
the  spring  before  taken  possession  of  this  place  by  night  and 
taken  General  Stoughton  from  his  quarters  and  carried  him 
off  a  prisoner.  Boyd's  sudden  appearing  before  the  place 
recalled  the  visit  of  the  Confederate  chief  and  caused  some 
excitement. 

On  one  of  these  rides  the  men  were  resting  at  noon  at 
four  corners.  A  squad  of  Confederates  had  been  roaming 
around.  Supposing  these  men  lounging  at  ease  along  the 
roadsides  were  their  friends,  they  carelessly  rode  in  among 
them.  Our  men  gathered  around  their  visitors,  and  pre 
sumed  as  if  on  their  long  acquaintance  to  treat  them  with 
freedom  and  familiarity.  They  pulled  them  off  their  horses ; 
they  took  hold  of  their  feet  and  tipped  them  out  of  their 
saddles  and  over  the  other  side;  helped  themselves  to  their 
arms;  examined  them  jocosely,  pulling  their  beards  and 
punching  them  in  the  ribs.  One  of  them  who  had  not  come 
so  far  into  the  circle,  undertook  to  get  away.  But  the  enter 
tainers  were  not  disposed  to  excuse  him  in  that  way,  and  he 
was  brought  back,  and  treated  to  the  best  they  had  to  offer. 

The  colonel  had  occasion  to  send  a  courier  to  Win 
chester.  It  was  not  safe  to  ride  about  the  country  singly. 
Several  were  selected  to  go  with  the  courier.  The  colonel 
called  them  into  his  quarters  to  give  them  instructions.  He 
was  not  an  intemperate  man,  but  he  offered  these  men  a 
little  stimulant  to  keep  their  courage  up.  They  went  on 
their  errand  in  good  spirits.  One  of  them  had  provided 
himself  with  a  little  extra  in  case  the  courage  of  the  others 


230  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

should  fail  by  the  way.  Getting  near  the  pickets  of  Penn 
sylvania  cavalry  it  occurred  to  them  to  see  whether  these 
pickets  had  grown  in  courage  since  Feb.  26.  The  courier 
escort  moved  on  with  a  bold  front,  all  abreast.  The  pickets 
fell  back  upon  the  infantry  reserve,  and  all  together  fled, 
raising  the  alarm  that  Mosby  with  all  his  command  was 
upon  the  town.  The  alarm  was  sounded  and  the  "long  roll" 
beat.  The  courier  and  his  escort  were  called  to  account. 
They  insisted  that  they  were  ready  to  give  a  peaceable  re 
sponse  to  a  challenge,  but  they  were  not  challenged,  and 
they  had  tried  their  best  to  overtake  the  pickets  in  order  to 
be  challenged.  They  were  requested  not  to  do  so  any  more, 
and  were  allowed  to  go. 

There  were  signs  of  increasing  activity  on  the  part  of 
the  Confederacy.  There  was  a  necessity  for  correspond 
ing  activity  on  this  side.  Scouting  parties  were  out  con 
tinually.  Word  was  received  from  Milroy  to  be  on  the 
lookout.  He  had  been  warned  from  Washington  that  Lee's 
army  might  be  moving  this  way.  At  the  signal  of  two 
guns  fired  at  Winchester,  McReynolds  was  to  fall  back  there. 
The  afternoon  of  the  I2th  Captain  Hendricks  encountered 
a  number  of  the  enemy  out  on  the  Front  Royal  road,  and  in 
a  skirmish  with  them  lost  two  men.  There  was  a  getting 
ready  for  anything  that  might  happen. 


THOMAS  CARMAN. 


CHARLES   N.  WARREN. 


THE   STAR   FORT— WINCHESTER. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  GETTYSBURG  CAMPAIGN;  FIGHTING  WITH 
THE  ADVANCE  OF  LEE'S  ARMY. 


morning  of  Saturday,  the  I3th  of  June,  was  bright 
A  and  warm.  Scouting  parties  had  been  out  all  night. 
Others  were  sent  out  at  daybreak.  One  of  these,  far  out  on 
the  Front  Royal  road,  met  the  cavalry  advance  of  Ewell's 
corps  coming  rapidly  on.  Henry  C.  H.  Wilson  of  B,  an 
intelligent  and  trusty  man,  was  sent  back  in  haste  to  give 
warning,  while  the  others  by  skirmishing  tried  to  delay  the 
advance.  At  Wilson's  warning  everybody  in  camp  pre 
pared  to  move.  Wilson  took  time  to  pack  a  few  of  the 
most  necessary  of  his  effects,  then  hurried  on  with  his  re 
port  to  Winchester.  Videttes  came  in  to  report  that  the 
signal  guns  at  that  place  had  been  fired. 

Men  hurriedly  gathered  up  what  few  belongings  they 
could  carry.  Tents  were  left  standing.  The  sutler  had  an 
extensive  stock.  He  threw  open  his  quarters  and  told  the 
men  to  help  themselves.  A  force  of  infantry  with  some 
artillery  was  formed  in  some  light  defences  south  of  the 
town  to  check  the  enemy  as  long  as  possible.  It  was  not 
thought  safe  to  take  the  direct  road  to  Winchester.  Major 
Quinn  had  part  of  the  regiment  as  an  advance.  The  wag 
ons  under  Quartermaster  Boyd  and  Commissary  Frank  Mc- 
Reynolds,  with  Company  H  under  Lieutenant  Martindale 
as  a  guard,  were  started  toward  Bunker  Hill  on  the  way 


231 


232  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

to  Martinsburg.  After  the  infantry  and  artillery  followed 
Captain  Boyd  with  several  companies  as  a  rear  guard. 

A  few  of  the  cavalrymen  were  without  horses,  but 
taking  their  bridles  they  walked  on,  hoping  that  some  loose 
horses  might  come  their  way.  Some  of  the  well  mounted 
caught  some  horses  that  were  in  the  fields,  to  prevent  their 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  turned  them  over 
to  these  dismounted  men.  W.  H.  Carroll  of  A  did  good 
service  in  this  way. 

A  short  distance  out  of  Berryville  the  column  took  the 
road  to  the  left,  making  a  detour  toward  Winchester. 
Flanking  parties  were  out  to  guard  against  a  surprise  on 
any  cross  road. 

The  most  of  the  brigade  had  crossed  the  Opequon  at 
Brucetown.  From  high  ground  west  of  the  crossing  there 
was  seen  a  long  cloud  of  dust  rising  from  the  road  far  to 
the  rear.  It  was  moving  this  way.  Colonel  McReynolds 
formed  the  infantry  in  line  facing  the  rear,  and  made 'all 
preparations  for  repelling  an  attack.  Quinn  who  had  gone 
on  in  advance  with  part  of  the  regiment,  was  recalled.  A 
few  parties  were  sent  in  different  directions  to  be  on  the 
lookout. 

During  the  night  Bailey  had  gone  out  with  his  com 
pany  to  watch  between  the  Front  Royal  and  Strasburg 
pikes.  He  found  himself  in  the  rear  of  a  body  of  Confed 
erate  cavalry,  and  captured  one  man.  He  soon  learned  that 
the  brigade  had  left  Berryville  and  he  rejoined  it  at  the 
Opequon.  For  greater  safety  he  told  his  color  bearer  to 
furl  the  guidon.  When  he  reached  the  regiment  he  asked 
where  was  the  guidon,  and  received  the  reply :  "Sure,  and 
yeez  tould  me  to  twirl  the  thing  and  so  Oi  twirled  it  over 
the  fince." 

The  part  of  the  regiment  at  the  crossing  was  under 
Major  Adams.  It  was  afterward  learned  that  the  Con- 


GETTYSBURG — FIGHTING  LEE'S  ADVANCE.          233 

federate  advance  numbered  two  thousand.  Captain  Boyd 
with  the  rear  guard  delayed  their  coming  as  much  as  pos 
sible,  but  was  obliged  to  fall  back.  A  portion  of  the  enemy 
charged.  Company  E  was  the  extreme  rear.  In  this 
charge  the  men  of  both  sides  became  so  mixed  up  that  in 
the  dust  that  was  raised  it  was  for  a  little  while  difficult  for 
one  to  recognize  his  own  comrades.  Philip  Pross  of  E  was 
killed  and  several  received  bad  wounds.  But  these  Ger 
mans  dealt  sturdy  blows  with  the  sabre,  and  the  enemy  was 
somewhat  checked. 

A  part  of  the  regiment  had  been  placed  on  the  right  of 
the  road.  These  used  their  carbines  with  good  effect  as 
soon  as  the  enemy  came  within  range,  giving  them  a  fur 
ther  check.  A  counter  charge  was  ordered  and  two  com 
panies  started,  but  did  not  go  on.  Some  of  the  men  hear 
ing  the  order  to  charge  rushed  forward.  Among  these  was 
C.  T.  Williamson  who  followed  the  retreating  enemy  some 
distance.  He  supposed  that  most  of  the  regiment  was  right 
behind  him.  But  seeing  the  enemy  rallying  and  coming  on 
again,  he  looked  around  and  found  himself  alone.  He  also 
found  that  his  horse  was  wounded  and  himself  was  bleed 
ing  profusely  from  his  right  shoulder  and  neck.  The  en 
emy  coming  on  took  him  prisoner,  and  he  was  taken  back 
to  the  main  body.  Lieut.  Prendergast,  in  this  attempt  at  a 
charge,  also  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  was  dis 
armed,  but  he  escaped. 

Two  officers  who  had  proved  themselves  efficient  were 
reported  by  Major  Adams  for  disobedience  of  orders  in  the 
face  of  the  enemy.  The  fact  was,  officers  and  men  had 
very  little  confidence  in  him.  He  was  not  wanting  in  cour 
age,  but  his  effusive  and  pompous  manner  and  his  much 
talking  did  not  indicate  judgment  and  discretion.  He  was 
more  apt  to  think  of  gaining  some  credit  for  himself  than 
of  gaining  success  with  the  least  loss  among  his  men.  Some 


234  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  the  officers  ventured  to  make  some  criticisms  and  sug 
gestions  as  to  his  arrangements.  With  immense  assurance 
he  warned  them  that  he  should  not  tolerate  any  criticism 
by  his  subordinates  in  the  presence  of  the  men. 

The  situation  was  reported  to  the  colonel  who  at  once 
sent  Lieut.  Watkins  with  orders  to  Adams  to  turn  over  the 
command  of  the  regiment  to  Major  Quinn,  and  consider 
himself  under  arrest.  Adams  refused  to  recognize  this  or 
der,  claiming  it  was  irregular.  Captain  Stevenson,  A.  A. 
A.  G.  then  gave  him  the  order.  This  Adams  could  not  help 
regarding  as  official  and  regular.  He  afterward  published 
a  voluminous  report,  which,  ignoring  the  colonel,  he  sub 
mitted  to  General  Milroy.  In  this  he  attributed  this  action 
to  the  jealousy  and  envy  of  the  officers. 

After  the  first,  and  not  very  formidable  Confederate 
attack,  the  regiment  was  all  withdrawn  this  side  of  the  Ope- 
quon,  and  placed  behind  a  turn  in  the  road.  One  of  Alex 
ander's  guns  was  placed  by  the  side  of  the  road  at  a  con 
venient  distance,  so  as  to  command  the  ford.  The  Con 
federates,  not  seeing  the  dispositions  that  had  been  made, 
felt  encouraged  to  try  again,  and  came  on  in  force.  As  the 
head  of  their  column  crossed  the  creek  and  came  to  the  turn 
in  the  road  the  cavalry,  led  by  their  captains,  sprang  for 
ward  and  made  a  fearful  onslaught  with  their  sabres.  It 
was  a  terrific  collision.  Adversaries  were  mingled  together, 
and  the  fighting  was  hand  to  hand.  The  enemy  was  checked. 
The  Sixth  Maryland  poured  in  a  volley.  The  cavalry  was 
called  back  that  the  artillery  might  have  a  chance,  and 
charges  of  grape  and  canister  swept  the  crossing. 

The  cavalry  lost  two  killed,  and  several  men  and  many 
horses  wounded.  The  enemy  lost  about  thirty  killed  and  an 
unknown  number  wounded.  One  stalwart  German  meeting 
an  antagonist  face  to  face,  brought  down  his  sabre  with  such 
tremendous  force  that  he  cleaved  his  foeman  from  the  neck 


GETTYSBURG — FIGHTING  LEE'S  ADVANCE.          235 

almost  to  his  sabre  belt,  muttering,  as  he  withdrew  his 
weapon,  "Gott  fur  damn !" 

Williamson,  held  as  prisoner,  had  seen  with  anxiety 
this  large  force  start  forward  on  their  charge.  But  soon 
he  saw  them  coming  back  faster  than  they  had  gone,  and 
observed  the  unusual  number  with  sabre  cuts  about  the 
head,  shoulders  and  arms.  He  had  been  so  interested  an 
observer  that  he  had  not  paid  much  attention  to  his  own 
condition.  But  now  he  became  faint  from  loss  of  blood. 
But  soon  a  heavy  shower  came  on  and  the  rain  revived  him, 
and  checked  the  flow  of  blood.  A  woman  from  a  house 
near  by  gave  him  some  refreshments.  He  was  paroled  at 
City  Point,  July  3,  exchanged  in  November,  and  returned 
to  the  regiment. 

The  Confederates  made  no  further  attempt  at  the  Ope- 
quon.  But  they  learned  the  course  the  wagon  train  had 
taken  and  followed  it.  They  overtook  it  at  Bunker  Hill 
and  had  a  lively  skirmish  with  Martindale's  train  guard, 
Company  H.  They  were  checked  in  their  pursuit,  while 
whip  and  spur  were  freely  used  on  the  teams,  and  the  wag 
ons  were  whirled  along  over  the  stone  pike  toward  Martins- 
burg.  Captain  Boyd's  wife,  son,  and  daughter  were  riding 
in  a  buggy  with  the  wagons.  In  the  fight  their  horse  be 
came  frightened,  and  ran  away,  overturning  the  vehicle. 
Mrs.  Boyd  had  her  ankle  sprained,  and  all  were  captured. 

From  Summit  Point  the  brigade  moved  on  to  Win 
chester.  A  very  heavy  thunder  storm  came  up.  The  rain 
fell  in  torrents.  The  men  had  no  shelter  except  as  some  of 
them  had  brought  along  their  rubber  blankets.  Fifty  or 
more,  in  looking  for  a  resting  place  for  the  night,  found  an 
old  hall  that  might  once  have  been  a  school  room.  In  this 
they  lay  down  in  their  drenched  clothes,  as  thick  as  they 
could  crowd  in,  on  the  bare  floor.  They  were  tired  after  the 
exciting  events  of  the  day,  and  in  spite  of  their  uncomfort- 


236  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

able  condition,  slept  soundly.  Shortly  after  midnight  Cap 
tain  Bailey,  who  was  always  looking  after  the  welfare  of 
the  men,  whether  of  his  own  company  or  not,  came  into  the 
hall.  "Men,  get  up.  We  have  got  to  get  out  of  here.  The 
rebels  are  all  around  the  town  and  may  come  in  here  at  any 
time.  We  must  go  up  into  the  forts."  It  was  difficult  to 
awake  some  of  them,  but  finally  all  were  out  of  the  town. 
It  had  cleared  off  after  the  shower  and  the  air  was  very 
chilly,  and  the  men  shivered  until  daylight. 

On  the  highest  hill  some  distance  northwest  of  the 
town  was  the  Star  Fort.  This  overlooked  the  lower  hills 
and  ridges,  on  all  of  which  earthworks  had  been  thrown  up. 
The  most  of  these  had  been  made  by  Banks  the  year  before. 

The  1 4th  was  Sunday,  and  a  perfect  June  day.  From 
the  Star  Fort  there  was  a  wide  and  beautiful  prospect  over 
the  town;  over  the  fields  and  woodlands  to  the  north,  east 
and  south,  with  the  mountains  in  the  distance,  and  over  the 
successive  ranges  of  hills  to  the  west.  There  was  a  fresh 
ness  in  all  the  scene  and  in  it  the  silent  shimmering  of  the 
summer  heat.  But  from  morning  till  night  the  holy  calm 
of  that  sabbath  day  was  broken  by  the  crackling  fire  of 
skirmishes  on  every  side.  The  enemy  was  gathering  around 
in  force.  In  the  afternoon  they  began  to  bombard  the  forts. 
The  large  wagon  train  of  the  division  had  not  been  sent 
away.  As  the  occasional  shells  fell  among  the  wagons  they 
would  be  moved  to  some  other  supposed  less  exposed  place 
between  the  hills.  The  infantry  stood  ready  to  defend  the 
forts  if  an  assault  should  be  made.  The  artillery  would 
now  and  then  respond  to  some  shot  that  revealed  the  loca 
tion  of  the  enemy's  guns.  Detachments  of  cavalry  were 
out  in  every  direction,  and  in  all  directions  they  met  detach 
ments  of  the  enemy.  The  rest  of  the  cavalry  was  held  in 
reserve,  the  men  standing  by  their  horses  ready  for  any 
call. 


GETTYSBURG — FIGHTING  LEE'S  ADVANCE.          237 

At  one  time  a  part  of  the  regiment  was  resting  beside 
the  train.  Among  the  others  was  a  sutler  with  his  loaded 
wagon.  There  was  no  drawing  of  rations  that  day,  nor 
had  there  been  the  day  before.  Every  man  was  boarding 
himself  on  what  he  could  get.  The  sutler  was  asked  to  open 
his  stock  that  the  men  might  buy.  He  thought  the  time  was 
too  critical  and  he  declined.  They  thought  this  unfair  as 
they  were  guarding  his  wagon  with  the  rest,  and  they  were 
hungry.  They  opened  his  wagon  and  helped  themselves. 
In  the  stock  was  a  large  lot  of  candies,  each  small  piece  with 
a  rhyming  couplet  wrapped  in  fringed  tissue  paper.  They 
read  their  mottoes  and  joked  and  ate  the  candy,  interrupted 
now  and  then  as  they  looked  up  to  watch  the  course  of  a  shell 
coming  their  way.  A  few  shells  burst  close  to  them.  They 
knew  they  wrere  surrounded,  but  they  kept  their  equanimity, 
and  made  the  best  of  the  situation. 

In  the  disposition  of  his  brigade,  Colonel  McReynolds 
showed  coolness,  bravery  and  judgment.  The  division 
numbered  about  six  thousand.  This  day  the  President  tele 
graphed  General  Schenck  at  Baltimore : 

Get   Milroy  from   Winchester  to  Harper's   Ferry  if  possible.     He 
will  be  "gobbled  up"  if  he  remains,  if  he  is  not  already  past  salvation. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

Communication  by  wire  was  cut  off.  Milroy  wanted 
to  send  a  message  to  Martinsburg.  Captain  Boyd  asked  to 
go,  as  his  family  was  with  the  wagons  and  he  was  anxious. 
Taking  his  company  and  looking  out  for  open  roads  he  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  through  the  lines  that  were  being  drawn 
around  the  town,  and  reached  Martinsburg.  The  message 
was  forwarded  to  General  Schenck.  It  was  necessary,  if 
possible,  to  get  the  reply  to  Winchester.  Three  of  Boyd's 
sergeants,  Harvey,  Pitman  and  Humphry,  daring  and  reli 
able  men,  volunteered  to  make  the  attempt.  After  dark 
they  set  out,  one  a  few  rods  behind  another,  the  last  one 


238  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

carrying  the  message.  They  succeeded  in  reaching  Win 
chester  late  in  the  night. 

In  the  meantime  the  enemy  was  shelling  the  forts.  Late 
in  the  afternoon  it  was  observed  that  a  strong  force  was  pre 
paring  to  make  an  assault  on  the  fortifications  on  the  lower 
hill  to  the  west.  It  would  be  impossible  for  the  garrison 
in  these  works  to  withstand  this  assault.  The  garrison  was 
withdrawn,  and  none  too  soon.  An  overwhelming  force 
came  rushing  on.  Some  pieces  of  artillery  came  into  the 
works,  wheeling  and  unlimbering  in  gallant  style.  The 
guns  in  the  Star  Fort  greeted  them  with  shell  after  shell 
planted  among  them  with  astonishing  precision,  and  each 
one  as  it  burst  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  was  followed  by 
exulting  cheers  from  the  Union  troops  in  the  larger  forts. 
A  gallant  officer  on  a  spirited  horse  came  riding  out  in  front 
of  the  works  that  had  been  taken.  A  shell  from  one  of 
Alexander's  guns  seemed  to  strike  directly  beneath  the  horse, 
bursting,  and  raising  a  cloud  of  smoke  and  dust  that  en 
veloped  the  horse  and  the  rider.  Loud  and  long  were  the 
cheers  that  again  broke  from  the  Union  men.  Standing  to 
arms  in  the  Star  Fort  they  still  presented  a  formidable  ar 
ray,  and  no  attempt  at  a  further  assault  was  made  that  day. 

It  was  Ewell's  corps,  the  advance  of  Lee's  army,  that 
was  working  its  way  around  Winchester.  It  was  Rodes' 
cavalry  that  had  attacked  McReynolds'  brigade  as  it  was 
falling  back  from  Berryville.  The  brigade  of  General  John 
B.  Gordon,  mostly  made  up  of  Georgia  regiments,  of  Early's 
division,  had  taken  possession  of  the  works  on  the  lower  hills 
to  the  west.  Gordon  was  one  of  the  ablest  of  the  Con 
federate  generals.  That  night  he  received  orders,  as  soon 
as  it  was  light  enough  in  the  morning,  to  carry  the  main  fort 
by  assault.  In  a  lecture  after  the  war,  he  related  the  inci 
dents  of  the  taking  of  the  outer  works,  and  of  receiving  or 
ders  to  advance  on  the  larger  forts  at  daybreak.  He  was 


GETTYSBURG — FIGHTING  LEE'S  ADVANCE.          239 

not  given  to  superstition,  or  to  premonitions.  But  as  he 
made  his  preparations  he  had  a  feeling  that  the  assault  on 
that  fort  would  prove  the  most  serious  affair  that  he  had  yet 
been  called  upon  to  undertake,  and  for  the  only  time  in  the 
war  he  felt  a  nervous  apprehension  for  himself.  But  he 
carefully  made  his  preparations.  It  was  a  mighty  relief, 
when,  in  the  morning  he  saw  that  the  fort  had  been  vacated. 
After  the  lecture  the  writer  greeted  the  general  and  re 
marked  that  he  was  one  of  those  in  Milroy's  fort.  The 
general  returned  a  hearty  greeting,  saying:  "I  am  very 
much  obliged  to  you  for  the  relief  you  gave  me  by  getting 
out  of  that  fort." 

C.  N.  Warren  of  K  had  been  afflicted  with  a  carbuncle 
on  the  lower  part  of  his  thigh.  It  had  been  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  that  he  had  ridden  from  Berryville,  being  obliged 
to  ride  standing  in  his  stirrups.  His  captain  told  him  to  go 
to  the  house  of  a  family  with  which  he  had  become 
acquainted.  If  any  thing  serious  should  happen  an  ambu 
lance  would  be  sent  for  him.  During  all  the  cannonading 
of  Sunday  he  kept  quiet.  In  the  evening  he  \vas  assured 
that  it  was  all  right.  Monday  morning  he  was  surprised  to 
see  soldiers  in  gray  all  about.  Some  of  the  family  were  in 
Early 's  division.  One  of  them  gave  Warren  a  gray  jacket, 
hoping  that  this  would  save  him  from  detection.  But  he 
was  suspected  and  taken  by  a  file  of  soldiers  to  Early's  head 
quarters.  Early  said  to  an  officer :  'Tut  him  down  Taken 
in  gray.' '  Warren  thought  now  that  his  time  had  come. 
Mr.  Chapman  was  called  upon  to  explain  why  the  Union 
soldier  had  been  allowed  to  stay  at  his  house.  He  explained 
that  Warren  had  befriended  the  family,  that  he  himself  was 
serving  in  the  general's  division,  and  had  just  that  morning 
reached  his  home.  Chapman  was  allowed  to  go,  but  War 
ren  was  turned  into  the  court  house  yard  with  many  other 
prisoners.  One  of  the  Chapman  family  brought  him  his 


240  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

own  Union  jacket,  passing  it  to  him  through  the  fence,  and 
taking  away  the  gray  one.  An  opportunity  presented  it 
self  while  his  guard  was  looking  the  other  way,  and  War 
ren  slipped  through  an  open  gate  and  out  into  the  street. 
So  many  of  the  southern  soldiers  were  wearing  parts  of 
captured  Union  clothing  that  he  did  not  attract  attention, 
and  he  walked  on  to  the  Chapman  house.  Plans  were 
quickly  made  to  hurry  him  out  to  Pughtown,  eight  miles,  to 
stay  with  friends  of  the  family,  until  the  army  moved  out. 
But  he  was  again  arrested  and  taken  to  Belle  Isle.  July  8, 
the  names  of  eighteen  hundred  who  were  to  be  paroled  were 
being  called.  To  one  name  there  was  no  immediate  re 
sponse.  Warren  took  his  chances,  answered  to  the  name, 
stepped  into  the  line,  and  the  next  day  at  City  Point  went  on 
board  the  New  York,  the  flag  of  truce  boat,  on  his  way 
north.  !  !;>.i!i!l 

The  casualties  during  the  skirmishing  and  cannonad 
ing  of  the  1 4th  had  not  been  many.  A  good  many  men  had 
been  wounded,  but  only  a  few  had  been  killed.  Many 
horses  had  been  killed  or  disabled. 

It  was  a  moonless,  intensely  dark  night  that  came  down 
upon  Winchester.  Those  not  on  guard  or  picket  took  what 
rest  they  could.  The  artillery  and  infantry  were  in  the  fort. 
The  cavalry  were  on  the  slopes  of  the  hills.  If  any  slept  it 
was  by  their  horses,  keeping  hold  of  the  reins.  No  one 
felt  like  predicting  what  the  next  day  would  bring  forth. 
All  knew  that  they  were  surrounded  by  superior  numbers, 
but  hoped  that  there  might  be  found  some  opening  by  which 
they  could  break  through  the  lines  drawn  around  them. 

An  artillery  horse  with  his  throat  cut  by  a  piece  of  shell, 
bleeding  with  a  gurgling  noise,  as  he  was  wandering  around 
stopped  at  Captain  Stevenson's  little  tent,  seeming  to  try 
to  gain  entrance  as  if  seeking  human  sympathy  and  help,  and 


GETTYSBURG — FIGHTING  LEE'S  ADVANCE.          241 

by  his  moaning  trying  to  make  his  wants  known.  Soon  he 
staggered  off  a  little  way,  fell,  and  was  dead. 

The  three  sergeants  of  Company  C,  who  had  been  sent 
from  Martinsburg,  had  eluded  the  Confederates,  and  about 
midnight  arrived  with  their  message.  This  was  an  order 
from  General  Schenck,  directing  Milroy  to  fall  back  to 
Harper's  Ferry. 

The  brigade  commanders  were  called  together.  Should 
they  remain  and  fight,  surrendering  if  compelled  to,  or  cut 
their  way  out?  The  decision  was  to  cut  their  way  out. 
Silently  as  possible  orders  were  passed  along  to  spike  the 
cannons,  and  leave  them  and  all  the  wagons  behind.  The 
teams  and  their  harness  were  to  be  taken  along.  The  in 
fantry,  as  far  as  possible,  were  to  be  mounted  upon  the  team 
horses  and  mules. 

Captain  Alexander,  whose  guns  had  been  so  splendidly 
served,  begged  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  wrap  his  can 
non  wheels  with  blankets  and  take  his  battery  along.  But 
it  was  deemed  not  best.  The  retreat  must  be  made  as 
silently  as  possible. 

The  pickets,  some  of  which  were  within  hearing  dis 
tance  of  the  enemy,  were  quietly  called  in  where  it  could  be 
done  without  the  knowledge  of  the  enemy.  Where  this 
could  not  be  done  the  pickets  had  to  be  left  to  their  fate. 
An  hour  after  midnight  the  column  began  to  move  down 
the  hill  side.  It  was  a  weird  procession  passing  in  silence, 
without  a  spoken  word,  through  the  midnight  darkness. 
After  reaching  the  pike  the  march  was  toward  the  north, 
General  Elliott's  brigade  first.  Lieutenant  F.  S.  Nims  was 
Elliott's  adjutant  general.  Then  Colonel  Ely's,  and  last 
that  of  Colonel  McReynolds.  Major  Adams  who  had  been 
placed  under  arrest  at  the  Opequon,  upon  reaching  Win 
chester,  ignoring  Colonel  McReynolds,  had  appealed  directly 
to  General  Milroy.  This  was  an  entirely  irregular  thing  to 


242  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

do.  Upon  his  representations  Milroy  released  him  from  ar 
rest,  and  he  was  now  in  command  of  the  regiment.  The 
regiment  brought  up  the  rear  of  the  division.  This  was 
supposed  to  be  the  position  of  the  greatest  responsibility  and 
danger  for  the  enemy  would  soon  learn  of  the  retreat  and 
follow  in  pursuit.  It  was  a  disadvantage  to  the  regiment 
that  immediately  in  front  was  a  heterogeneous  multitude  of 
artillerymen,  wagon  drivers  and  infantry  mounted  on  horses 
and  mules. 

The  danger  on  this  retreat  proved  to  be  in  front.  A 
large  part  of  Ewell's  corps  had  moved  around  and  taken 
position  in  a  piece  of  woods  on  high  ground  about  four  miles 
from  Winchester.  A  strong  line  had  been  formed  across 
the  pike,  at  right  angles  to  it,  and  extending  far  out  on  either 
side.  Elliott's  advance  encountered  this  in  the  darkness,  and 
his  infantry  soon  became  hotly  engaged. 

McReynolds,  with  Stevenson  and  New  of  his  staff,  rid 
ing  on  ahead  of  his  brigade,  found  Milroy  and  his  staff  on 
their  horses  by  the  roadside.  There  seemed  to  be  in  Milroy's 
mind  no  very  definite  plan  of  proceeding.  Now  was  felt 
the  need  of  the  artillery  that  had  been  left  behind.  Mc 
Reynolds  hurried  up  his  infantry  with  the  purpose  of  form 
ing  it  on  the  right  of  the  road.  But  the  enemy's  artillery 
was  working  havoc  here.  The  Thirteenth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry  was  ordered  forward.  McReynolds  made  an  at 
tempt  to  lead  this  regiment  in  a  charge  around  the  enemy's 
left,  and,  if  possible,  capture  their  artillery.  But  their  fir 
ing  was  so  rapid  and  severe  that  the  cavalry  did  not  readily 
respond.  Perhaps  the  attempt  would  have  failed  with  heavy 
loss.  The  entire  command  fell  into  confusion.  Perhaps  no 
one  in  the  darkness  could  have  restored  order.  Every  one 
began  to  look  out  for  himself.  It  was  now  get 
ting  light.  In  squads,  larger  or  smaller,  officers 
and  men  moved  off  to  the  right,  and,  evading  and 


GETTYSBURG — FIGHTING  LEE'S  ADVANCE.          243 

dodging  between  parties  of  the  Confederates,  after  many 
narrow  escapes,  made  their  way  to  Charlestown  and  Har 
per's  Ferry.  Here,  coming  one  after  another,  Milroy  and 
his  brigade  commanders  and  their  staffs  finally  found  each 
other.  Most  of  the  men  on  the  right  of  the  pike  escaped 
in  this  direction. 

The  First  New  York  cavalry  that  had  been  the  extreme 
rear  of  the  division  hurried  forward  to  the  fighting  in  front. 
It  was  yet  too  dark  to  see  exactly  what  the  situation  was. 
The  artillery  firing  was  severe.  Even  in  the  perils  of  that 
cannonading  one  could  not  help  admiring  the  brilliant  bursts 
of  spiteful  red  fire,  as  the  shells  in  quick  succession  exploded 
in  the  darkness  overhead.  It  was  magnificent  as  well  as 
terrific.  But  something  had  to  be  done,  and  quickly.  There 
was  no  use  in  staying  there.  For  the  moment  the  only 
thing  seemed  to  be  to  make  a  grand  crash  through  the  blaz 
ing  line  in  front.  The  order  rang  out,  "Draw  sabres !  For 
ward!  Trot!"  The  men  gathered  their  reins,  grasped 
firm  hold  of  their  sabres,  fixed  themselves  firmly  in  their  sad 
dles,  clenched  their  teeth,  and  spurred  their  horses  into  a 
gallop.  The  horses  seemed  to  catch  the  spirit  of  the  occasion 
and  nerved  themselves  for  the  desperate  event.  They  came 
within  range  of  the  infantry  firing.  But  that  line  was  too 
strongly  posted.  It  would  have  been  a  grand  charge,  like 
that  of  the  Light  Brigade  at  Balaklava,  but  at  a  fearful 
sacrifice  of  life,  with  nothing  to  gain  but  the  name.  The 
men  would  have  made  the  charge,  and  Major  Adams  would 
have  led  them  in  it.  But  just  then  some  one  with  some 
sense,  either  a  staff  officer  or  some  junior  officer  of  the  regi 
ment,  appeared  at  the  head  of  the  column  and  ordered  it  off 
to  the  left.  The  column  moved  rapidly  across  the  fields  with 
the  enemy's  firing  on  its  right  flank,  but  was  soon  out  of 
range  of  the  infantry,  but  not  of  the  artillery.  It  was  get 
ting  light  and  Adams  here  halted  the  regiment,  as  if  he 


244  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

wanted  to  see  all  that  was  to  be  seen.  Some  one  urged  him 
to  go  on  instead  of  waiting  longer  where  nothing  could  be 
done.  But  he  replied,  "I  am  in  no  hurry  to  get  out  of  here.'' 
Quinn  retorted,  "I  noticed  you  were  in  a  hurry  to  get  out  of 
where  you  were  a  few  minutes  ago."  "Hurrah  for  Major 
Quinn!"  "Bully  for  Tim  Quinn!"  "Quinn  take  command 
and  lead  us  out,  and  let  the  other  major  stay  if  he  wants  to !" 
The  men  had  no  confidence  in  the  commanding  major's 
strategy.  Reckless  bravado  was  not  always  the  courage  that 
won.  The  loud  protests  against  waiting  there  for  nothing 
induced  the  self-important  major  to  move  on.  In  a  little 
while  we  might  run  into  another  superior  force. 

What  our  losses  had  been  we  could  not  tell.  Captain 
Bailey  had  been  slightly  wounded  in  the  shoulder  by  the 
fragment  of  a  shell.  Another  piece  of  a  shell  had  struck 
Fiala  in  the  foot.  Horses  had  been  killed  or  disabled  and 
their  riders  captured.  All  that  the  enemy  had  to  do  now 
was  to  gather  in  their  harvest  of  prisoners.  About  two 
thousand,  one-third  of  the  division,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Confederates. 

The  division  was  for  the  time  being  broken  up.  Gen 
eral  Milroy  was  relieved  from  his  command.  He  asked  for 
a  court  of  inquiry.  He  tried  to  lay  part  of  the  blame  for 
his  disaster  on  Colonel  McReynolds.  But  the  colonel  had 
proved  himself  capable  and  had  done  all  that  any  one  in  his 
position  could  have  done.  His  management  of  the  affair  at 
the  crossing  of  the  Opequon  had  been  admirable,  showing 
coolness,  self-possession,  courage  and  the  highest  judgment. 

In  reply  to  Milroy's  request  to  be  restored  to  his  com 
mand,  the  President  wrote  the  following  letter : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  June  29. 
Major  General  Milroy. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :     Your  letters  to  Mr.  Blair  and  to  myself  are  handed 
to  me  by  him.     I  have  never  doubted  your  courage  and  devotion  to 


GETTYSBURG — FIGHTING  LEE'S  ADVANCE.          245 

the  cause.  But  you  have  just  lost  a  division  and,  prima  facie,  the 
fault  is  upon  you.  And  while  that  remains  unchanged,  for  me  to  put 
you  in  command  again,  is  justly  to  subject  me  to  a  charge  of  having 
put  you  there  on  purpose  to  have  you  lose  another.  If  I  knew  facts 
sufficient  to  satisfy  me  that  you  were  not  in  fault  or  error,  the  case 
would  be  different.  But  the  facts  I  do  know,  while  they  are  not  at  all 
conclusive  (and  I  hope  they  may  never  prove  so),  tend  the  other  way. 

First,  I  have  scarcely  seen  anything  from  you  at  any  time  that  did 
not  contain  imputations  against  your  superiors  and  a  chafing  against 
acting  the  part  they  have  assigned  you.  You  have  constantly  urged 
the  idea  that  you  were  persecuted  because  you  did  not  come  from 
West  Point,  and  you  repeat  it  in  these  letters.  This,  my  dear  general, 
is,  I  fear,  the  rock  on  which  you  have  split. 

In  the  Winchester  case  you  were  under  General  Schenck,  and  he 
under  General  Halleck.  I  know  by  General  Halleck's  order  book  that 
he,  on  the  nth  of  June,  advised  General  Schenck  to  call  you  in  from 
Winchester  to  Harper's  Ferry,  and  I  have  been  told,  but  do  not  know, 
that  General  Schenck  gave  you  the  order  on  the  same  day;  and  I 
have  been  told,  but  do  not  know,  that  on  receiving  it,  instead  of  obeying 
it,  you  sent  by  mail  a  written  protest  against  obeying  it,  which  did  not 
reach  him  until  you  were  actually  beleaguered  at  Winchester. 

I  say  I  do  not  know  this.  You  hate  West  Point  generally  and 
General  Halleck  particularly,  but  I  do  know  that  it  was  not  his  fault 
that  you  were  at  Winchester  on  the  i3th,  I4th  and  morning  of  the  I5th, 
the  days  of  your  disaster.  If  General  Schenck  gave  you  the  order  on 
the  nth,  as  General  Halleck  advised,  it  was  an  easy  matter  for  you  to 
have  been  off  at  least  on  the  I2th.  The  case  is  inevitably  between 
General  Schenck  and  you. 

Neither  General  Halleck  nor  anyone  else,  as  far  as  I  know,  re 
quired  you  to  stay  and  fight  60,000  with  6,000,  as  you  insinuate.  I 
know  General  Halleck,  through  General  Schenck,  required  you  to  get 
away,  and  that  in  abundant  time  for  you  to  have  done  it.  General 
Schenck  is  not  a  West  Pointer,  and  has  no  prejudice  against  you  on 
that  score.  Very  truly  yours, 

A.  LINCOLN. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

THE  GETTYSBURG  CAMPAIGN  :     THE  WAGON 
TRAIN  AND  CAPTAIN  BOYD. 

IT  was  sound  judgment  on  the  part  of  Colonel  McReynolds 
in  leading  his  brigade  from  Berryville  to  Winchester, 
June  13,  to  send  the  brigade  and  regimental  trains  with  all 
speed  toward  the  Potomac.  At  Bunker  Hill  these  trains 
struck  the  pike  on  their  way  to  Martinsburg.  They  were 
in  charge  of  Lieutenants  Wm.  H.  Boyd,  Jr.,  quartermaster, 
and  B.  F.  McReyonlds,  commissary.  It  was  no  easy  work 
these  young  officers  had  before  them.  They  had  capable 
assistants  in  A.  J.  Merritt,  regimental  wagon  master,  a  prac 
tical  man  of  business;  and  Abram  Bruce  in  charge  of  the 
headquarters  train.  The  latter  was  familiarly  known  as 
"Buck."  He  had  been  in  various  kinds  of  business :  an 
omnibus  driver  in  New  York,  and  a  driver  in  Dan  Rice's  cir 
cus.  He  had  traveled  all  over  the  country.  He  was  a  man 
of  wonderful  resources,  and  seemed  equal  to  any  emergency. 
If  he  was  ever  in  special  need  of  anything,  horses,  wagons, 
forage,  he  would  find  some  way  to  supply  his  wants.  He 
always  managed  to  secure  for  his  train  "the  right  of  way," 
other  orders  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  Lieutenant 
Martindale  with  Company  H  went  with  the  train. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  Jenkins'  cavalry  made  an 
attack  on  the  rear  of  the  brigade  at  the  crossing  of  the  Ope- 
quon.  Being  repulsed  here,  they  followed  the  train,  over- 


246 


GETTYSBURG — WAGON  TRAIN  AND  BOYD.         247 

taking  it  at  Bunker  Hill.  Martindale  was  on  the  alert,  and 
met  the  attack  on  the  train  guard  with  such  spirit  and  deter 
mination  that  the  attacking  party  was  checked,  while  the 
wagons  with  all  possible  speed  were  hurried  along  the  stone 
pike  toward  Martinsburg.  Here  the  enemy  attacked  again. 
Lieutenant  Boyd,  the  quartermaster,  with  what  men  he 
could  get  together,  repulsed  this  attack.  In  the  fight  he 
was  wounded,  and  Commissary  McReynolds  had  to  assume 
added  responsibilities.  General  Tyler  was  in  command  at 
Martinsburg.  He  made  preparations  to  repel  an  attack,  at 
the  same  time  preparing  to  move  his  stores  and  his  small 
force  to  Harper's  Ferry. 

The  night  of  the  I4th  Captain  Boyd  with  Company  C 
had  left  Winchester  for  Martinsburg.  Martindale  with 
Company  H  went  with  Tyler  to  Harper's  Ferry.  Boyd 
with  C  kept  with  the  Berryville  train  that  was  hurried  along 
to  Williamsport  The  advance  of  Jenkins'  cavalry  followed, 
attacking  repeatedly  until  the  train  reached  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
on  the  1 7th.  It  was  then  thought  that  the  train  needed  no 
farther  protection,  and  it  kept  on  its  way  to  Philadelphia 
where  a  place  was  found  for  it  in  Fairmount  Park.  It  had 
made  remarkably  good  time. 

Boyd,  having  escorted  the  train  until  it  was  out  of  dan 
ger,  proposed  now  to  turn  back  and  have  a  hand  in  the  fight 
ing  that  was  to  be  done. 

Lieutenant  Oliver  B.  Knowles,  who  had  shown  such 
coolness  and  daring  in  the  first  fight  of  the  company  at  Po- 
hick  Church,  August  18,  1861,  and  who  had  shown  himself 
cool,  intelligent,  and  fearless  on  every  occasion  since  then, 
had  been  home  on  leave  of  absence.  But  the  reports  of  the 
fighting  had  hurried  him  to  the  front.  He  first  reported  to 
the  part  of  the  regiment  that  had  crossed  from  Harper's 
Ferry  to  Maryland  Heights.  Here  he  learned  that  Boyd 
and  his  company  were  at  Harrisburg,  and  he  hastened  there. 


248  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Boyd  was  impatient.  Instead  of  consuming-  time  in 
marching,  he  put  his  command  on  board  the  cars  and  hurried 
back  to  Shippensburg.  Beyond  this  place  the  track  had 
been  torn  up.  Here  he  took  his  company  off  the  cars  and 
marched  to  Chambersburg.  The  enemy  had  been  there  and 
withdrawn.  The  2Oth  he  moved  on  to  Mercersburg.  While 
waiting  here  a  body  of  the  enemy  marched  past  not  far  dis 
tant,  but  was  not  seen  by  Boyd.  He  moved  on  to  the  vic 
inity  of  Greencastle.  The  2ist  he  was  busy  watching 
developments. 

He  was  out  early  in  the  morning  of  the  22nd.  An 
advance  party  of  Jenkins'  cavalry  had  been  riding  around  in 
Franklin  county.  Boyd  was  looking  for  this  party.  Cap 
tain  J.  A.  Wilson  of  Company  I,  Fourteenth  Virginia  cav 
alry  (now,  1902,  living  at  Taranta,  Augusta  county,  Va.,  a 
firm  believer  in  the  "Union  forever"),  had  been  sent  on 
ahead  by  Jenkins,  with  instructions,  if  he  should  meet  any 
Federal  cavalry  to  fall  back  and  tempt  them  to  follow  in 
pursuit,  when  they  were  expected  to  fall  into  a  trap  that 
would  be  prepared  for  them.  Near  Greencastle  he  caught 
sight  of  Boyd's  company  on  a  hill  in  the  timber.  «  Wilson 
and  his  troop  came  on  to  the  neighborhood  of  a  small  black 
smith  shop.  Out  of  this  shop  ran  two  of  Boyd's  men  who 
had  been  having  their  horses'  shoes  tightened.  They 
mounted  their  horses,  and  endeavored  to  rejoin  their  own 
troop,  but  both  were  overtaken  by  Wilson's  men  and  were 
sent  back  to  the  main  body  as  prisoners.  Wilson  now  saw 
the  Federal  cavalry  coming  upon  him  at  a  "swinging  gal 
lop."  The  advance  was  led  by  Sergeant  Wm.  D.  Hall. 
According  to  his  orders,  Wilson  fell  back  until  he  came  in 
sight  of  the  main  command,  whose  horses  were  all  turned 
loose  to  graze.  He  ordered  his  own  men  to  dismount  and 
turn  their  horses  loose.  At  a  sharp  turn  in  the  road  he 
quickly  formed  his  men  along  the  fences. 


GETTYSBURG — WAGON  TRAIN  AND  BOYD.          249 

Boyd  had  but  thirty-five  men  with  him  and  was  now 
in  front  of  Jenkins'  entire  command  of  infantry,  cavalry  and 
artillery,  four  thousand  strong.  When  he  ran  into  this 
party  in  ambush  he  did  not  know  the  enemy's  exact  posi 
tion,  although  he  knew  they  were  not  far  away.  He  halted 
for  a  moment  at  the  Flemming  homestead,  which  is  repre 
sented  in  the  background  of  the  accompanying  picture,  to 
take  some  observations.  Corporal  William  H.  Rihl  came 
riding  out  from  behind  the  house  and  stopped  his  horse  just 
on  the  spot  where  the  monument  stands.  At  this  instant 
Wilson's  men  from  their  places  of  hiding  fired  a  volley  di 
rectly  into  the  faces  of  Boyd's  men.  A  bullet  struck  Cor 
poral  Rihl  in  the  jaw  and  passed  through  the  base  of  the 
brain.  His  death  was  instantaneous.  He  was  the  first 
Union  soldier  killed  in  action  in  Pennsylvania  in  the  war  of 
the  rebellion,  and,  it  is  believed,  the  first  one  killed  on  free 
soil. 

Sergeant  Milton  Cafferty  was  wounded  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  leg  and  taken  prisoner.  He  was  placed  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Card  to  remain  there  until  his  captors  should 
call  for  him.  He  was  well  cared  for  here,  and  the  enemy 
never  called  for  him. 

This  action  took  place  about  five  and  a  half  miles  north 
of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line.  Boyd,  having  learned  the  force 
and  position  of  the  enemy,  fell  back  to  Shippensburg. 

Corporal  Wm.  H.  Rihl  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  in  1843.  He 
was  5  ft.  6  1-4  in.  tall,  with  light  complexion,  blue  eyes,  and  dark 
hair ;  by  occupation  a  gardener.  Mustered  in  as  private  in  Company 
C,  July  19,  1861.  He  was  buried  near  where  he  fell.  A  few  days 
afterward  the  citizens  removed  the  remains  to  the  Lutheran  church 
yard.  After  twenty-one  years  his  body  was  again  exhumed  and  buried 
with  imposing  ceremonies  on  the  exact  spot  where  he  was  killed.  The 
G.  A.  R.  Post  at  Greencastle  was  named  in  honor  of  him,  "The  Wm. 
H.  Rihl  Post."  Through  the  efforts  of  a  committee  of  this  Post — Dr. 
F.  A.  Bushey,  J.  R.  Davis.  B.  F.  Winger,  J.  H.  Shirey,  S.  H.  Eley, 
Wm.  Snyder,  and  M.  W.  Kissecker — a  beautiful  granite  monument  was 


250  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

erected  over  the  grave,  and  this  was  protected  by  a  substantial  iron 
fence. 

The  inscriptions  on  the  four  sides  are:  "To  the  Memory  of  Cor 
poral  William  H.  Rihl,  Co.  C,  First  N.  Y.  Lincoln  Cavalry,  who  was 
killed  on  this  spot,  June  22,  1863." 

"Erected  by  Corporal  Rihl  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Greencastle,  Pa." 

"The  first  Union  soldier  killed  in  action  in  Pennsylvania." 

"An  humble  but  brave  defender  of  the  Union." 

The  monument  stands  21  feet  high,  on  a  base  4^  feet  square.  It 
is  of  Quincy  granite  and  weighs  eight  tons.  It  was  erected  by  Jos.  N. 
Forbes,  of  Chambersburg. 

The  willow  tree  in  the  rear  of  the  monument  was  grown  from  a 
twig  taken  from  a  tree  which  grew  on  the  Island  of  St.  Helena,  near 
the  grave  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  Extremes  meet.  Here  is  a  memo 
rial  of  the  selfish  conqueror  who  in  his  ambitious  career  wasted  nations, 
and  one  to  the  memory  of  the  humble  soldier  who  unselfishly  gave  his 
life  in  the  defence  of  the  Union. 

To  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  James  H.  Shirey,  proprietor  of  the  Crowell 
House,  seen  in  the  engraving,  we  are  indebted  for  this  picture.  For 
accounts  of  this  action  we  are  indebted  to  Dr.  F.  A.  Bushey,  of  Cor 
poral  Rihl  Post,  and  to  Mr.  E.  D.  Card. 

It  was  a  generous  deed  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  the  place, 
this  building  a  monument  to  a  soldier  who  was  a  stranger  to  them, 
testifying  their  respect  for  the  memory  of  one  who  gave  his  life  in 
defence  of  his  country. 

The  24th,  Boyd  was  forced  back  to  Cashtown  and  then 
to  Mount  Rock.  In  falling-  back  he  was  never  out  of  sight 
of  the  Confederate  advance,  with  whom  he  kept  up  a  con 
tinual  skirmishing.  The  26th  he  was  at  Carlisle.  He  sent 
Lieutenant  Knowles  with  all  the  men  he  could  spare  to  save, 
if  possible,  the  stores  in  the  barracks.  But  the  enemy  was 
too  strong  to  be  opposed,  and  the  barracks  and  stores  were 
burned. 

The  27th,  Boyd  was  compelled  to  fall  back  to  Kingston. 
The  28th,  he  found  the  enemy  was  between  him  and  Har- 
risburg,  and  he  had  to  make  a  hasty  detour  through  the 
country  to  reach  that  place. 

The  militia  that  had  been  called  out  to  meet  the  emer- 


WM.  H.  RIHL'S  MONUMENT. 


GETTYSBURG — WAGON  TRAIN  AND  BOYD.         251 

gency  had  responded  promptly,  not  only  from  Pennsylvania, 
but  from  other  states,  and  especially  from  New  York,  whose 
governor  was  not  in  sympathy  with  the  administration,  but 
who  had  acted  efficiently  in  this  crisis.  The  Confederate 
advance  had  reached  its  limit,  and  now  began  to  retire. 

Boyd,  always  on  the  alert,  followed.  The  29th,  the 
daring  Lieut.  Knowles  with  less  than  a  dozen  men  dashed 
upon  more  than  three  times  his  number  and  captured  them 
with  their  horses.  But,  a  larger  force  coming  upon  him,  he 
let  his  prisoners  go  to  save  his  own  men. 

The  3Oth,  the  company  captured  a  foraging  party  with 
their  wagons  and  plunder.  The  3ist,  Corporal  Emerick 
Knowles  was  out  looking  for  something  to  satisfy  his  hun 
ger,  and  came  upon  three  Confederates  hungrier  than  him 
self,  and  used  his  empty  revolver  to  persuade  them  to  come 
with  him  to  camp. 

Lieutenant  Oliver  B.  Knowles  was  a  man  of  reckless 
daring.  He  seemed  utterly  devoid  of  fear.  Near  Arendts- 
ville  he  had  gone  out  alone  to  look  around,  not  supposing 
that  any  force  of  the  enemy  was  in  the  immediate  neighbor 
hood.  All  at  once  he  found  himself  directly  in  front  of  sev 
enteen  Confederates.  "The  only  safety  to  the  conquered  is 
to  hope  for  no  safety/'  said  Aeneas  in  the  last  night  of  Troy. 
Drawing  his  revolver,  he  rushed  upon  them,  calling  to  them 
to  surrender.  There  was  a  grim  humor  in  his  demand.  He 
was  surprised  to  see  the  haste  with  which  they  complied. 
They  crowded  around  him  and  handed  over  their  revolvers 
faster  than  he  could  take  them.  He  had  to  let  them  fall  to 
the  ground  all  around  him.  He  could  not  understand  it  him 
self,  until,  looking  back,  he  saw  part  of  his  men,  who  by  some 
chance  had  come  out  in  that  direction  and  were  now  hurry 
ing  toward  him.  The  seventeen  had  seen  these,  and  sup 
posed  a  large  force  was  coming,  and  thought  that  if  all 


252  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

these  were  like  their  leader  they  themselves  would  stand  a 
poor  chance  in  a  fight. 

July  ist,  the  company  came  upon  a  foraging  party  that 
had  taken  from  farmers  nearly  a  hundred  horses  and  mules 
and  a  number  of  wagons.  Boyd's  men  captured  them  all. 
The  captain,  not  wishing  to  be  encumbered,  turned  the  cap 
tured  property  and  prisoners  over  to  General  W.  F.  Smith 
who  had  been  short  of  transportation.  To  him  the  animals 
answered  a  needed  purpose. 

The  two  great  armies  were  drawing  nearer  to  each 
other.  Outriding  detachments  were  being  called  in.  All 
the  while  Boyd  was  watching  for  some  chance  to  strike. 
He  was  even  laying  plans  to  capture  Lee  himself.  That  gen 
eral  was  reported  to  be  at  Cashtown,  and  Boyd  was  willing 
to  take  his  chances  in  making  a  dash  through  the  lines  to  the 
Confederate  headquarters  and  out  again. 

In  drawing  near  Fayetteville  in  the  early  morning,  he 
came  upon  a  party  of  cavalry  that  had  been  plundering  near 
Chambersburg.  He  attacked  with  such  vigor  that  they 
fled,  leaving  their  plunder  behind  and  causing  such  an  alarm 
that  the  enemy  became  so  vigilant  that,  with  only  a  part  of 
his  company  with  him,  he  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  attempt 
too  much. 

The  rest  of  the  company  was  with  Knowles.  The  rebel 
General  Stuart  had  made  a  raid  around  the  Union  army. 
A  detachment  of  his  force  had  captured  a  train  of  wagons. 
This  train  was  moving  toward  the  main  Confederate  army, 
guarded  by  a  part  of  Fitz  Hugh  Lee's  brigade.  Knowles 
with  his  few  men  made  a  dash  upon  the  rear  of  this  train, 
and  for  a  brief  time  held  possession  of  a  section  of  it.  But 
the  heavy  guard  of  the  train  came  to  the  rescue,  and  Knowles 
was  compelled  to  abandon  his  prize.  He  succeeded,  how 
ever,  in  bringing  away  a  number  of  prisoners. 

The  3rd,  two  small  foraging  parties  were  run  down  and 


GETTYSBURG — WAGON  TRAIN  AND  BOYD.          253 

captured  by  Boyd's  men.  The  4th,  a  larger  party  that  had 
gathered  horses  and  wagons,  was  taken  with  all  its  booty. 
The  6th,  there  was  another  skirmish,  the  enemy  being  driven, 
and  losing  a  few  prisoners.  The  Qth,  was  another  fight 
near  Hagerstown.  The  nth,  the  company  reached  Hagers- 
town.  The  I3th,  it  joined  the  rest  of  the  regiment  near 
Chambersburg. 

These  men  had  had  a  campaign  of  ceaseless  activity, 
but  they  seemed  to  have  thrived  through  it  all.  Many  of 
them  were  soon  afterward  rewarded  with  promotions  in 
other  Pennsylvania  regiments.  It  was  the  Pennsylvania 
company  of  the  First  New  York.  They  had  been  fighting 
on  the  soil  of  their  own  state,  and  near  their  own  homes. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
GETTYSBURG:     WEST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY. 

f  I  ^HE  larger  part  of  the  regiment  and  part  of  the  I2th 
Pennsylvania  that,  on  the  morning  of  the  I5th,  suc 
ceeded  in  escaping  around  the  right  of  the  Confederate  line, 
marched  toward  the  northwest.  The  day  was  hot,  and  the 
roads  rough.  Some  of  the  infantry  had  escaped  in  the 
same  way.  For  a  time  these  tried  to  keep  up  with  the  cav 
alry,  and  the  cavalry  were  unwilling  to  leave  them  behind. 
The  foot  sore  men  were  given  a  rest  by  an  occasional  ride. 
Past  Berkley  Springs  and  across  the  Potomac  to  Hancock 
was  a  weary  day's  march  of  forty  miles.  Here  the  cav 
alry  rested  for  the  night.  The  next  morning  the  infantry 
came,  and  soon  afterward  came  a  few  Confederate  cavalry. 
A  captain  with  about  a  dozen  men  was  sent  to  see  if  the 
enemy  was  appearing  in  force  below  the  town.  He  crossed 
the  canal  bridge  and  went  a  few  miles  down  the  tow  path. 
At  a  distance  were  seen  two  men  on  the  turnpike  on  the 
Maryland  side.  The  captain  sent  Valentine  to  see  who 
these  were.  Valentine  suspected  that  these  were  Evans  and 
Peterson,  and  that  they  were  not  likely  to  stop  short  of 
Clear  Spring.  They  had  been  here  before,  and  knew  the 
country  well.  (After  the  war  Evans  married  a  Clear 
Spring  girl.)  Two  Confederates  had  forded  the  river  and 
were  on  the  tow  path.  Valentine  returned  and  reported  to 
the  captain.  The  latter,  perhaps,  thought  that  these  were 


254 


GETTYSBURG — WEST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY.  255 

the  advance  of  a  large  number.  Perhaps  he  thought  of  the 
chase  at  Blue  Gap  the  fall  before  when  he  was  run  down 
and  captured.  Perhaps  he  thought  the  state  of  Maryland 
afforded  a  wider  field  for  military  operations  than  that  nar 
row  tow  path.  It  was  a  long  distance  back  to  the  bridge 
by  which  he  had  crossed.  There  was  a  woman  on  the 
opposite  side,  and  he  called  to  her.  "How  deep  is  this 
canal?"  She  answered:  "Well,  you  will  have  to  take 
more  than  three  jumps  in  one  or  else  swim,  if  you  want  to 
get  across."  Beyond  those  two  men  he  seemed  to  see  a 
host  in  the  Virginia  hills  just  ready  to  swarm  across  the 
river.  He  was  wearing  his  usual  leg-long,  funnel-top  boots, 
and  perhaps  he  thought  these  were  higher  than  the  water 
was  deep.  Telling  his  men  to  follow  him,  he  spurred  his 
horse  into  the  canal.  Not  one  of  them  followed  him.  In 
spite  of  their  respect  for  authority  they  laughed  as  they 
saw  him  working  his  way  across  and  floundering  up  the 
farther  bank.  Still  they  laughed  as  they  saw  him,  drenched, 
trying  to  invert,  first  one,  then  the  other,  side  of  himself  in 
his  efforts  to  pour  the  water  out  of  his  boots. 

The  two  Confederates  were  too  well  mounted  to  be 
taken.  Undisturbed  by  them  the  captain's  men  leisurely 
but  hilariously  kept  along  the  tow  path  until,  coming  to  a 
culvert,  they  passed  under  the  canal  on  dry  ground. 

John  Stuart  was  a  young  Irishman  with  an  unlimited 
fund  of  dry  humor.  George  Peavey  was  almost  his  equal, 
with  a  little  of  the  sarcastic.  Both  were  irrepressible. 
Occasionally  on  the  next  day's  march  they  would  make 
allusions  in  a  variety  of  forms  of  speech  that  never  failed 
to  appeal  to  their  comrades'  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  to  "some 
body  that  tried  to  bail  out  the  canal  with  his  boots." 

Peterson  and  Evans  on  their  return  encountered  the 
two  Confederates.  A  lively  skirmish  at  once  began  be 
tween  the  two  equal  parties  on  opposite  sides  of  the  canal. 


256  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Each  stood  his  ground  and  continued  the  fight  until  the 
two  Federals  had  used  all  their  ammunition.  Peterson's 
horse  was  wounded  and  himself  received  a  bullet  in  his  left 
thigh.  This  he  carried  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  rode  his 
wounded  horse  back  to  Hancock. 

The  evening  was  lurid  with  the  fire  and  smoke  of  burn 
ing  bridges. 

Beach  and  McKinley  had  been  detailed  to  issue  forage, 
plenty  of  which  had  been  found  in  a  canal  warehouse.  The 
regiment  was  in  an  open  field  outside  the  town.  The  two 
men  had  been  busy  all  day.  At  night  they  deliberated — "It 
is  more  comfortable  to  sleep  here  on  this  hay  under  a  roof 
than  shelterless  on  the  bare  ground.  Let's  stay  here."  "All 
right;  let's  stay."  An  hour  of  comfortable  rest,  when  a 
discomforting  thought  came:  "McKinley,  what  if  the 
regiment  should  move  before  daylight?  We  might  be 
caught  napping."  "Guess  we  might."  "Let's  go  to  camp." 
"All  right;  guess  we  had  better  go."  It  was  fortunate  for 
them  that  they  went.  Before  midnight  the  entire  com 
mand  was  on  the  road,  and  before  daylight  the  enemy  was 
in  Hancock. 

Lieut.  Col.  Pierce  of  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  cav 
alry  was  the  ranking  officer  of  all  these  detachments,  and 
assumed  command.  In  the  absence  of  any  controlling  or 
ders  it  seemed  best  to  go  to  Cumberland.  Before  reaching 
Flintstone  it  was  learned  that  the  enemy  was  in  Cumber 
land.  After  a  halt  and  a  consultation  it  was  deemed  best 
to  take  a  road  toward  the  north  into  Pennsylvania.  The 
day  was  hot  and  the  road  rough  and  dusty.  The  force 
reached  Chaneyville  at  night,  after  a  march  of  forty  miles. 
The  1 8th  the  march  was  continued  through  Rainsburg, 
Charlesville,  and  past  Bedford  Springs  to  Bedford,  nearly 
twenty  miles.  Along  the  way  the  most  hospitable  treatment 
was  given  by  the  people  to  the  tired  and  hungry  soldiers. 


GETTYSBURG — WEST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY.  257 

In  some  houses  abundant  dinners  were  prepared,  the  tables 
being  repeatedly  set,  and  all  offers  of  payment  declined. 
Along  the  wayside  people,  old  and  young,  boys  and  girls, 
would  stand  handing  refreshments  to  the  men  in  the  pass 
ing  column. 

Bedford  was  one  of  the  pleasantest  places  in  the  state, 
a  place  of  wealth  and  culture.  In  1775  two  companies  had 
marched  from  here  to  Boston.  The  people  had  not  degen 
erated.  Now  their  homes  were  opened  to  enlisted  men  and 
officers  alike.  The  I9th,  the  command  moved  to  Everett, 
then  called  Bloody  Run.  Fiala,  Peterson  and  others  who 
had  been  wounded  had  kept  along  on  horseback  thus  far. 
No  ambulances  had  been  brought  from  Winchester.  Now 
the  people  of  Bedford  offered  their  best  family  carriages  to 
carry  these  wounded  men  to  the  next  camp.  Here  some  of 
them  were  given  furloughs. 

The  hospitality  of  the  people  of  Bedford  was  grate 
fully  remembered.  Out  of  it  grew  many  warm  friendships 
— and  a  few  post  bellum  marriages. 

The  2Oth,  General  Milroy  found  his  way  back  to  this 
remnant  of  his  division.  He  stayed  but  a  day  or  two,  being 
summoned  to  the  court  of  inquiry  called  to  examine  his  con 
duct  of  affairs. 

There  was  much  confusion  and  disorder  among  the 
militia  that  had  been  called  out.  Gradually  they  were  be 
ing  mustered  and  armed. 

The  quartermaster  and  commissary  had  gone  with  the 
train.  The  majors  were  called  elsewhere.  Captain  Jones 
was  the  ranking  officer.  Hinton  was  acting  adjutant  and 
quartermaster.  There  was  no  organized  department 
through  which  supplies  could  be  procured.  Several  men 
were  detailed  to  go  out  in  different  directions  to  buy  forage. 
Vouchers  were  given  to  the  farmers  who  brought  in  these 
supplies.  Hon.  John  Cessna  of  Bedford  was  an  able  law- 


258  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

yer  and  president  of  the  bank.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
character,  sterling  integrity  and  intense  patriotism.  His 
patriotism  was  shown  in  a  practical  and  substantial  way. 
He  rendered  all  the  assistance  he  could  to  the  foragers,  and 
cashed  all  vouchers  for  supplies  purchased.  After  the  war 
was  over  he  was  repaid  by  the  government,  and  then  with 
out  interest. 

The  foragers  had  a  variety  of  experiences.  One  of 
them  met  a  funeral  procession.  The  procession  halted  and 
the  sergeant  was  asked  many  questions  as  to  whether  it  was 
likely  to  be  interfered  with  by  the  enemy,  rumors  of  whose 
coming  had  reached  the  people.  He  was  hospitably  enter 
tained  by  Mr.  Trout  of  Mill  Spring.  The  26th,  he  was  re 
turning  after  three  days'  continual  riding.  Just  at  night 
he  reached  Mr.  Charles  Stuckey's,  two  miles  west  of  Bed 
ford.  Not  knowing  whether  the  regiment  had  moved  dur 
ing  his  absence,  he  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  hospitable 
farmer  to  stay  all  night.  He  was  tired  and  slept  soundly. 
Long  before  day  he  became  half  conscious  of  a  continuous 
rumbling  as  of  wagons  on  the  stone  pike.  He  continued 
half  asleep  until  he  heard  one  calling  loudly,  "Mr.  Stuckey ! 
Mr.  Stuckey !  Get  up  and  get  away  with  your  horses ! 
The  rebels  are  in  Bedford,  fifteen  thousand  strong !  !"  The 
sergeant  was  quickly  awake,  dressed,  and  at  the  barn  with 
his  horse  saddled.  Vehicles  of  every  description,  loaded 
with  household  goods  and  other  things  of  every  sort,  were 
being  driven  along,  the  drivers  plying  the  whip  and.  shout 
ing  to  their  teams  as  if  a  host  of  furies  were  pursuing  them. 
The  sergeant,  being  well  mounted  and  armed,  felt  no  need 
to  join  in  this  mad  flight.  He  turned  his  horse  and  rode 
slowly  toward  Bedford.  To  his  inquiry,  "What's  the  news?" 
a  driver  briefly  said,  "Rebels  in  Bedford,  fifteen  thousand 
strong!"  and  hurried  on.  After  a  little  another  replied, 
"Ten  thousand  rebels  in  Bedford!"  A  half  mile  farther, 


GETTYSBURG — WEST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY.  259 

there  were  only  five  thousand.  Before  sunrise  he  rode  into 
Bedford.  There  were  groups  of  excited  people  in  the 
streets.  They  had  heard  that  the  advance  of  a  column  was 
at  Bedford  Springs,  two  miles  from  the  town.  Later  it 
was  learned  that  a  few  Federal  scouts  had  been  seen  and 
these  had  been  taken  for  Confederates,  and  in  the  telling,  in 
the  excited  condition  of  those  who  told  and  those  who 
heard,  they  had  grown  into  an  army  "fifteen  thousand 
strong!" 

The  regiment  remained  at  Everett  until  the  2Qth  when 
it  moved  back  to  Bedford. 

There  were  continual  rumors  of  the  coming  of  the 
enemy.  Scouting  parties  were  all  the  while  on  the  alert. 

Some  of  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  cavalry  had  been 
sent  out  and  had  not  returned.  The  29th,  Lieut.  Col. 
Pierce  sent  Captain  Jones  to  see,  if  he  could,  what  had  be 
come  of  the  missing  men.  With  a  detail  of  thirty-one 
men  he  went  to  McConnellsburg.  Mr.  J.  W.  Greathead,  a 
merchant  of  the  place,  gave  the  following  account  of  what 
happened : 

At  8:30  a.m.  the  citizens  were  very  much  cheered  by  the  sight  of 
a  company  of  cavalry  coming  from  the  direction  of  Everett. 

The  company  stopped  in  front  of  the  Fulton  House.  A  newly  re 
cruited  company  of  cavalry  that  had  not  yet  received  their  equipments 
came  in  from  Mount  Union  and  also  stopped.  The  captain  of  the 
latter  asked  me  whose  company  the  other  was.  I  replied:  "I  don't 
know."  He  said :  "Tell  the  captain  I  wish  to  see  him."  "What  name 
shall  I  give?"  "Captain  Morrow."  I  found  the  officer  and  said: 
"Captain  Morrow  wishes  to  see  you."  Just  then  his  picket  came  in. 
The  captain  said :  "What's  the  matter,  sergeant?"  He  replied:  "They 
are  coming  down  the  mountain!"  "How  many?"  "Don't  know;  not 
over  two  hundred." 

We  all  followed  the  captain  out  of  the  house,  and  as  he  was 
descending  the  steps  he  said,  in  ordinary  conversational  tone,  to  his 
men:  "Get  on  your  horses  and  get  to  your  places;  I'll  fight  them." 
In  a  moment  they  were  in  line  on  a  slow  trot  toward  the  west,  the 
direction  from  which  they  had  come.  Captain  Morrow  with  his  com- 


260  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

pany  was  hurrying  northward  toward  Mount  Union.  The  rebel  cav 
alry  could  be  heard  coming  in  from  the  east.  In  a  few  minutes  they 
came  up  the  hill  on  a  smart  gallop,  but  slackened  at  sight  of  Captain 
Jones  and  his  trim  command,  not  more  than  three  hundred  yards  off, 
whose  every  motion  was  a  step  toward  business.  The  Confederates 
came  to  a  dead  halt  just  as  the  head  of  the  company  reached  the  alley 
between  the  Fulton  House  and  Greathead's  store.  Not  more  than 
thirty  seconds  before  this  Captain  Jones  had  wheeled  by  file,  and  as 
the  sabres  went  up  it  seemed  as  if  a  bright  sheet  of  steel,  about  two  and 
a  half  feet  wide  by  one  hundred  long,  had  been  suddenly  turned  up 
on  its  edge,  the  sight  of  which  struck  the  rebels  with  fear  and  con 
fusion.  Just  then  a  fresh  lot  of  six  or  eight  came  over  the  hill,  the 
commander  crying  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "Charge  'em,  Captain,  charge 
'em !"  On  seeing  Captain  Morrow  leaving  toward  the  north  he  pointed 
in  that  direction  with  his  revolver  and  said  something  we  could  not 
hear  distinctly,  at  which  the  whole  company  broke  up  in  a  wild  dash 
in  retreat,  with  Captain  Jones  leading  in  pursuit.  When  the  top  of  the 
hill  was  reached  the  Captain's  file  comrade  fired  his  carbine  at  the  flee 
ing  rebels,  and,  looking  to  see  the  effect,  we  saw  a  man,  two  blocks 
ahead,  come  down  on  his  horses's  neck.  The  horse  frantically  wheeled 
around  the  next  horse  to  his  left  and  into  the  crowd  again  with  all  the 
energy  and  speed  he  possessed.  Following  up  as  closely  as  discretion 
would  dictate,  at  the  forks  of  the  pike  we  met  twelve  or  fifteen  pris 
oners  under  guard  of  four  soldiers  coming  down  the  Mercersburg  pike; 
going  on  up,  meeting  prisoners  under  guard  every  few  rods,  we  came  to 
a  man  lying  on  the  roadside  in  the  agony  of  a  mortal  wound.  Without 
an  utterance  he  looked  up  in  such  supplicating  despair  that  must  melt 
the  human  heart  to  grace.  I  asked:  "Where  are  you  hurt?"  He 
rolled  over  on  his  side.  The  ball  had  pierced  near  the  spine  about  three 
inches  below  the  shoulder  blade.  "Did  this  ball  pass  through  you?"  I 
asked.  He  turned  on  his  back  again,  and  opening  his  clothes  from  the 
neck  down,  we  found  the  ball  had  raised  the  skin  its  full  size  and 
shape,  a  little  below  the  base  of  the  breast  bone.  I  said  to  him :  "You 
are  very  badly  hurt;  if  you  have  any  word  to  send  to  your  friends  I 
will  make  a  memorandum  and  see  that  they  get  it."  He  said :  "Send 
me  to  my  wife."  I  told  him  we  could  not.  "You  cannot  live  more 
than  an  hour  or  two  at  most."  He  said :  "I  want  my  wife  to  have  all 
my  property."  I  asked  for  his  name  and  residence.  "William  Shelton, 
Warm  Springs,  Bath  County,  Virginia."  "Whom  do  you  belong  to?" 
"Imboden."  "What  company  and  regiment?"  I  understood  him 
"Company  I."  He  gave  no  regiment.  During  this  time  he  continu 
ally  begged  for  water.  We  saturated  a  handkerchief  and  wet  his  lips 
and  cooled  his  forehead.  He  begged  to  have  water  poured  on  his  fore- 


GETTYSBURG — WEST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY.  261 

head.  I  told  him  the  shock  would  be  too  great;  he  could  not  stand  it. 
Several  citizens  had  come  up,  among  them  Mr.  Conrad  Orth,  who,  in 
response  to  his  entreaty,  took  up  the  canteen  and  poured  water  on  his 
forehead.  With  a  shudder  and  quivering  moan  he  ceased  to  breathe. 

Going  on  up  perhaps  fifty  or  sixty  paces,  we  found  another  Con 
federate  lying  obliquely  on  the  road,  dead. 

A  few  of  Captain  Jones'  men  came  down  the  pike  and  said  to  us : 
"It  is  all  over,  you  had  better  return."  Mounting  a  captured  horse  we 
came  to  town  and  counted  thirty-two  prisoners  and  thirty-four  horses — 
the  award  of  cruel  war's  arbitrament  to  Captain  Jones  and  his  thirty-one 
brave  and  true  men,  for  their  courage,  discipline  and  undaunted  will. 

Aunt  M gave  me  a  sharp  thrust  from  the  point  of  her  tongue 

for  cheering  Captain  Jones  and  his  men  when  passing,  and  wound  up 
by  saying:  "You  might  'a  got  the  town  burnt  down." 

About  3  p.m.  we  were  again  alarmed  by  companies  of  Confederate 
cavalry  coming  in  from  the  south,  east  and  west.  They  at  once  com 
menced  searching  for  soldiers  and  arms.  I  was  hunted  up  and  ordered 
to  open  the  store.  After  a  hasty  search  I  asked  the  officer  if  that  was 
all  he  wished.  He  replied  in  the  affirmative.  I  then  asked:  "Will  you 
kindly  give  me  a  guard  to  prevent  annoyance?"  He  said  "Yes,  sir," 
and  called  three  of  his  men,  instructing  the  first  to  "see  that  this  man 
and  his  property  are  not  molested."  I  thought  of  him  as  a  gentleman 
out  of  place. 

One  of  the  guard  and  myself  sat  down  on  the  door  step  and  en 
tered  into  friendly  conversation.  He  asked  whether  we  had  "heard  the 
news  from  Vicksburg."  I  said  "No."  He  said:"The  siege  has  been 
raised  and  we  have  taken  Chattanooga."  He  then  mentioned  York, 
Pa.,  as  having  been  taken.  I  said :  "You  have  spoiled  it  all  now. 
There  are  no  fortifications  at  York  worth  naming.  Your  officers  evi 
dently  are  cheering  you  up  with  stories  of  victories  not  won."  The 
guard  and  I  went  into  a  discussion  of  the  war,  when  an  officer  rode  up 
and  asked:  "How  many  of  the  Yankees  was  killed,  sah?"  "There 
were  none  killed."  "How  many  wounded,  sah?"  "One  slightly." 
"Whose  company  was  it,  sah?"  "Captain  Jones'  company."  "Was  it 
of  the  First  New  York  cavalry,  sah?"  Although  I  had  not  learned 
to  what  regiment  Jones  belonged,  I  felt  convinced  from  his  tenor  that 
the  name  of  the  First  New  York  had  something  of  terror  to  him  in  it, 
and  promptly  replied,  "Yes,  sir."  He  made  some  very  strong  asser 
tions  as  to  how  pleased  they  would  be  to  meet  Captain  Jones.  I  asked 
how  many  there  were  of  them.  He  replied :  "About  three  hundred 
and  forty."  I  said:  "The  telegraph  line  runs  to  Everett.  No  doubt, 
if  you  send  your  compliments  to  Captain  Jones  he  will  respond  to  your 
liking."  He  said:  "You  talk  like  a fool."  I  replied:  "Well, 


262  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Captain  Jones  and  his  men  don't  fight  like  fools."  By  that  he  wheeled 
his  horse  and  bade  me  go  to  a  place  noted  for  its  heat.  Perhaps  the 
reader  may  think  it  very  bold  in  me  to  talk  thus  under  the  circum 
stances.  It  was  easy  enough  with  the  guard  beside  me  inspiring  me 
by  nudging  me  with  his  elbow  at  every  answer,  who  with  his  comrades 
broke  into  laughter  when  the  officer  left.  They  told  me  one  trouble 
was,  their  officers  were  generally  from  the  wealthy  families  and  not 
liked  by  the  men  on  account  of  their  pompous  presence  at  drills  and 
parades  and  safe  absence  from  the  dangers  of  the  battlefield. 

The  party  appropriated  a  wagon  or  two  and  left.  It  was  supposed 
they  took  the  wagons  to  remove  the  comrades  that  had  been  wounded 
above  the  first  acute  angle  on  the  pike,  above  which  Captain  Jones  did 
not  follow,  his  men  emptying  their  pieces  across  the  hollow  into  the 
pell  mell  of  the  retreating  rebels. 

The  day  was  very  warm,  and  for  greater  comfort  dur 
ing  the  return  ride  of  twenty-five  miles  the  men  took  off 
their  blue  jackets  and,  strapping  them  to  their  saddles,  rode 
in  something  of  undress.  On  coming  in  sight  of  the  pick 
ets  at  Everett,  their  appearance  and  that  of  the  prisoners  in 
gray,  gave  the  impression  that  they  were  all  Confederates. 
The  pickets  of  recent  levies  retired  in  haste  and  gave  the 
alarm  that  a  large  body  of  Confederates  was  coming.  The 
captain  told  one  of  his  men  to  put  on  his  jacket  and  ride 
on  rapidly  and  report  the  facts.  But  the  rumor  had  the 
start  and  traveled  faster  than  the  blue-clad  messenger  of 
truth.  The  entire  force  fled  a  good  way  toward  Bedford 
before  the  mistake  could  be  corrected.  This  afforded  great 
amusement  to  the  prisoners.  They  enjoyed  it  more  than 
anything  else  that  they  had  seen  that  day. 

The  3Oth,  Captain  Bailey  with  a  part  of  Co.  K  went  out 
in  the  direction  of  Hancock.  He  came  upon  a  foraging 
party  of  about  his  own  number.  He  attacked  promptly  and 
there  was  a  lively  fight.  Several  men  and  horses  on  each 
side  were  wounded.  A  lieutenant  and  ten  men  were  cap 
tured.  The  lieutenant  took  the  matter  good  naturedly,  say 
ing  that  Lee's  plan  was  to  take  all  the  large  cities,  conquer 


GETTYSBURG — WEST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY.  263 

a  peace,  and  let  his  men  pass  the  rest  of  the  summer  in 
northern  pleasure  resorts. 

Now  came  the  news  that  Hooker  had  been  relieved,  and 
that  Meade  was  in  command.  All  were  anxiously  watch 
ing  for  the  collision  between  the  two  great  armies,  and  were 
impatient  to  be  near  the  scene  of  the  conflict.  July  2,  Major 
Quinn  with  a  battalion  went  to  McConnellsburg.  He  fol 
lowed  up  a  column  of  Imboden's  men.  He  attacked  their 
rear  with  vigor,  taking  a  few  prisoners  and  giving  a  quick 
ening  impulse  to  the  speed  of  the  retiring  column, 

The  3rd,  the  command  left  Bedford.  The  day  was 
warm  and  the  way  rough,  twenty  miles  to  MTvaine's.  The 
4th,  the  march  \vas  begun  early.  The  morning  was  foggy 
and  sultry.  The  day  was  intensely  warm.  Halted  the 
afternoon  and  night  at  McConnellsburg,  the  scene  of  Cap 
tain  Jones'  recent  fight.  The  Confederates  had  been  in  and 
out  of  the  place  repeatedly.  In  the  afternoon  there  were 
severe  storms.  The  lightning  and  thunder  were  terrific, 
and  the  rain  came  down  in  sheets. 

The  cavalry  of  the  brigade  was  at  McConnellsburg, 
with  Lieut.  Col.  Pierce  of  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  in  com 
mand.  Only  uncertain  rumors  had  come  concerning  the 
movements  of  the  armies.  Pierce  hesitated  to  act  without 
orders.  He  was  unwilling  to  assume  too  much  responsi 
bility.  Captain  Jones  and  Bailey  were  talking  over  the  situ 
ation,  and  the  lack  of  definite  news.  They  \vere  impatient 
to  do  something.  Bailey  proposed  that  Jones  take  the  regi 
ment,  pass  to  the  rear  of  Lee's  army,  and  then  join  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  or  return,  as  might  seem  best.  Pierce  was 
persuaded  to  consent  to  such  a  movement  on  condition  that 
part  of  his  regiment  should  go  along.  The  order  was  given 
detailing  one  hundred  men  from  each  regiment.  The  morn 
ing  of  the  5th  Captain  Jones  set  out.  At  Mercersburg  he 
halted  for  refreshments.  The  people  fed  both  men  and 


264  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

horses  liberally.  On  sending  for  the  reports  of  the  orderly 
sergeants,  the  captain  found  that  there  were  only  eighty 
men  of  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania,  and  there  were  more  than 
one  hundred  of  the  First  New  York.  On  passing  the  picket 
line,  a  number  of  men  of  the  latter  regiment  had  deserted 
the  picket  posts  in  order  to  go  along.  The  captain  here 
learned  that  a  wagon  train  was  moving  toward  the  Potomac. 
He  secured  a  guide  and  moved  on. 

At  Cunningham's  cross  roads  he  found  a  good  place 
for  a  surprise.  A  bluff  ran  parallel  to  the  turnpike  about 
two  hundred  yards  from  it.  Halting  his  command  under 
the  shelter  of  this  bluff,  and  taking  a  few  men  with  him  he 
went  cautiously  to  the  top.  As  far  as  he  could  see,  the  train 
was  moving  along.  He  could  not  see  either  end. 

This  train  had  left  the  field  at  Gettysburg  the  afternoon 
of  the  4th.  It  was  seventeen  miles  long.  Imboden  was  in 
charge  of  it,  with  about  2,100  men  and  a  few  pieces  of 
artillery.  This  force  was  distributed  along  the  train,  at  in 
tervals  of  less  than  half  a  mile.  Many  stragglers  and 
wounded  men  who  were  able  to  walk  were  keeping  along 
with  the  train.  Many  wounded  men  were  riding  in  the 
wagons. 

Without  a  particle  of  excitement  in  his  manner  the  cap 
tain  rode  along  his  column,  telling  the  men  to  do  their  best. 
"If  you  get  into  close  quarters,  use  your  sabres.  Don't 
strike,  but  thrust!" 

Leaving  fifty  men  of  the  Twelfth  as  a  reserve,  and 
waiting  till  a  detachment  of  the  guarding  force  had  passed 
the  cross  road,  he  quietly  gave  his  orders. 

Lieutenants  Passegger  and  Woodruff,  each  with 
their  detachments,  sprang  to  their  work.  The  former 
led  his  men  toward  the  rear  to  attack  and  hold 
back  the  next  section  of  the  train  guard.  Wood 
ruff  led  his  men  as  with  a  loud  cheer  they  distributed  them- 


GETTYSBURG — WEST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY.  265 

selves  along  the  train.  They  directed  the  drivers  to  "Turn 
off  there !"  pointing  to  the  cross  road  and  through  the  fields. 
As  these  orders  were  given  with  emphasis,  and  reinforced 
with  uplifted  sabres  or  cocked  revolvers,  they  were  promptly 
obeyed. 

Captain  Irwin  of  the  reserves  was  told  to  distribute  his 
men  along  the  line  of  wagons  and  keep  them  moving  as  fast 
as  possible  toward  Mercersburg. 

Prisoners  were  hurried  into  the  wagons,  keeping  their 
muskets  with  them.  The  captain  then  arranged  his  men  so 
as  to  make  as  large  a  show  of  force  as  possible  facing  toward 
the  rear  of  the  train,  and  waited  for  the  guard  to  attack,  his 
object  being  to  give  as  much  time  as  possible  for  the  cap 
tured  wagons  to  get  away. 

It  seemed  a  long  time  before  the  enemy  could  make  up 
their  mind  what  to  do.  Finally  they  got  together  a  large 
force  in  line  and  throwing  out  skirmishers,  began  to  move 
forward.  The  captain  waited  as  long  as  he  thought  pru 
dent,  when  he  wheeled  his  command  and  galloped  away. 

While  the  men  were  busy  turning  the  teams  out  of  the 
pike,  the  captain  saw  a  large  covered  wagon  filled  with 
prisoners,  drawn  by  six  mules,  standing  partly  across  the 
road,  with  no  driver.  Seeing  a  young  negro  standing  near 
he  said  to  him :  "Can  you  drive  that  team  ?"  "Yes,  Massa, 
I  drive  um."  Then  jumping  on  the  box  he  put  his  head  in 
side  the  wagon  cover  and  yelled  to  the  prisoners :  "By 
golly,  you  toted  me  off.  Now  I  tote  you  off!"  Then 
jumping  from  the  box  to  the  back  of  the  saddle  mule,  with 
a  loud  laugh  and  a  yell  at  the  team,  he  soon  had  the  road 
clear. 

Wet,  hungry  and  weary,  the  command  arrived  about 
midnight  at  Mercersburg. 

One  hundred  thirty-four  wagons,  more  than  six  hun 
dred  horses  and  mules,  six  hundred  forty-five  prisoners  and 


266  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

two  pieces  of  artillery  were  the  trophies  of  this  spirited 
affair.  Three  hundred  of  the  prisoners  had  been  wounded 
at  Gettysburg.  The  wagons  contained  much  plunder  that 
the  Confederates  had  gathered  from  stores  and  houses  they 
had  passed.  Of  the  captain's  men  three  were  killed,  a  few 
slightly  wounded  and  several  had  their  horses  disabled. 

One  man  having  lost  his  horse,  and  seeing  the  train 
guard  coming,  was  looking  for  some  place  where  he  might 
hide  until  the  guard  should  pass  by.  He  dodged  into  an 
old  barn.  To  his  surprise  he  found  the  barn  occupied  by  a 
lot  of  Confederates  who  had  taken  refuge  there  during  the 
attack  on  the  train.  They  all  threw  up  their  hands,  crying 
out:  "We  surrender!"  "All  right,"  said  the  cavalryman, 
"Just  stay  right  here  till  I  can  take  care  of  you."  Getting 
out  of  the  barn  he  sought  another  place  of  safety. 

Bernard  Dougherty,  one  of  those  dismounted,  in  wan 
dering  back  to  the  regiment  picked  up,  one  after  another, 
thirteen  weary  Confederates  who  were  entirely  willing  to 
come  with  him  as  prisoners. 

The  force  at  McConnellsburg  moved  at  noon  of  the  5th, 
over  a  mountain  range  and  through  Loudon  to  Chambers- 
burg,  twenty-five  miles.  "Glad  to  see  you,"  was  the  greet 
ing  they  received.  At  2  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the 
march  was  resumed  for  Mercersburg,  sixteen  miles,  and 
then  back  to  Loudon.  Valentine  and  three  others,  delayed 
on  the  march,  followed  hard  on  the  track  of  some  strolling 
Confederates,  capturing  one  and  quickening  the  speed  of  the 

rest. 

The  full  story  of  the  great  battle  was  now  known  and 

the  report  of  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  was  confirmed. 
The  detachments  that  had  been  separated  at  Berryville  and 
Winchester  were  drawing  together,  and  all  in  high  hope  that 
they  would  have  a  hand  in  again  defeating  the  Confed 
erates  before  they  could  recross  the  Potomac. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 
GETTYSBURG :     EAST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY. 

THE  morning  of  June  15,  while  the  train  with  Com 
panies  C  and  H  was  hurrying  northward,  and  other 
detachments  were  on  the  way  to  Hancock,  Milroy  and  most 
of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  division  were  making  for 
Harper's  Ferry.  General  Tyler  from  Martinsburg  took 
command  and  moved  all  the  forces  across  the  river  to  Mary 
land  Heights. 

In  the  temporary  organization  of  this  force,  Col.  Mc- 
Reynolds  was  placed  in  command  of  the  cavalry,  parts  of 
broken  organizations  forming  a  somewhat  irregular  brigade. 
Of  his  own  regiment  only  Lieut.  Martindale  with  Co.  H 
was  with  him.  Lieut.  J.  H.  Stevenson  of  Co.  C.  was  his 
A.  A.  A.  G.  and  Lieut.  E.  A.  New  was  an  aide. 

Here  on  Maryland  Heights  they  awaited  developments. 
Pleasanton  and  Stuart  were  fighting  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  their  guns  could  be  distinctly  heard.  The  Union  cav 
alry  was  skirmishing  with  the  Confederate  advance.  The 
forces  on  Maryland  Heights  were  held  in  readiness.  A 
portion  of  the  Confederates  was  crossing  the  Potomac  east 
of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  Hooker  was  leading  his  army  north 
ward  between  these  Confederates  and  Washington.  Stuart 
was  taking  his  cavalry  around  the  rear,  or  rather  through  the 
Union  army,  moving  not  far  from  Washington.  But  it  was 


268  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

not  easy  for  those  on  the  Heights  to  know  all  that  was  go 
ing  on.  Lieutenant  Martindale  and  his  company  were  kept 
busy  scouting  for  information.  June  23rd,  he  captured 
fifteen  Confederates,  one  of  whom  was  the  son  of  General 
Wight.  The  24th,  Hooker's  army  was  crossing  at  Ed 
wards'  Ferry.  The  27th,  Hooker  himself  looked  over  the 
position  and  gave  orders  for  the  disabling  of  the  heavy  guns 
and  abandoning  the  Heights.  A  courier  bearing  dispatches 
from  Lee  to  one  of  his  generals  was  taken.  The  informa 
tion  gained  led  to  a  postponement  of  this  movement.  A 
number  of  straggling  Confederates  were  taken.  They  were 
wandering  around  freely  in  Maryland.  An  ambulance  train 
with  its  guard  was  captured. 

The  3Oth,  these  forces  moved  to  Frederick  and  became 
a  part  of  French's  corps.  Both  armies  were  moving  toward 
their  "Philippi"  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  first  of  July  a  scouting  party  went  up  along  the 
Potomac  to  see  how  Lee  had  crossed  and  what  were  his 
means  of  recrossing,  and  what  guards  he  had  left  there. 
The  scout  returned  the  night  of  the  2nd.  They  reported 
finding  a  pontoon  bridge  at  Falling  Waters  guarded  by  two 
hundred  cavalry.  At  the  Williamsport  ford  was  a  guard  of 
a  few  hundred  men. 

Colonel  McReynolds  thereupon  wrote  to  General 
French : 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  BRIGADE, 

FREDERICK,  MD.,  July  3,  1863. 

LIEUTENANT:  I  beg  to  submit  for  the  consideration  of  the  Major 
General  commanding,  that  I  have  information,  which  I  deem  reliable, 
that  the  rebel  force  in  the  vicinity  of  Williamsport  is  very  small;  that 
a  force  of  cavalry  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  could,  in  my 
opinion,  successfully  approach  to  that  point,  and,  by  a  prompt  move 
ment,  at  break  of  day  to-morrow,  destroy  the  pontoon  bridge  at  that 
place,  which  is  the  only  reliance  of  the  rebels  for  a  retreat  for  their 
infantry,  artillery  and  wagons  in  that  direction.  I  sincerely  hope  the 


GETTYSBURG — EAST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY.  269 

General  will  permit  me  to  make  this  movement,  as  I  deem  it  not  only 
quite  practicable,  but  of  vast  importance. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Lieutenant, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ANDREW  T.  MCREYNOLDS, 

Col.  ist  N.  Y.  Cav.,  Com'd  Cav.  Brig. 
To  LIEUT.  W.  F.  A.  TORBUT, 

A.  A.  G.  French's  Corps. 

This  received  the  approval  of  General  French.  The 
communication  was  endorsed : 

HEADQUARTERS,  July  3,  1863. 

COLONEL  :  I  am  directed  by  General  French  to  say  that  he  approves 
of  the  within,  and  that  you  will  use  your  discretion  in  effecting  the 
purpose.  Respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.  F.  A.  TORBUT, 

Lieut.  A.  D.  C  and  A.  A.  A.  G. 
To  COLONEL  MCREYNOLDS, 

Commanding  Brigade. 

Colonel  McReynolds  intrusted  this  matter  to  Major 
Shadrack  Foley  of  the  I4th  Pennsylvania  cavalry.  With 
about  three  hundred  men  from  his  own  regiment,  from  the 
ist  New  York,  I3th  Pennsylvania,  and  6th  Michigan,  he 
started  on  the  night  of  the  3rd.  The  men  went  fully  pre 
pared  for  their  bold  undertaking.  They  proceeded  as 
quickly  as  possible  and  cautiously  to  the  Potomac  at  Fall 
ing  Waters.  The  pontoon  bridge  had  been  loosened  on  the 
Maryland  side,  and  had  swung  over  to  the  other  bank.  The 
guard  was  on  the  Virginia  side.  John  Hetz,  a  bugler  of 
the  6th  Michigan,  volunteered  to  swim  across  the  river  and 
cut  the  upper  end  of  the  bridge  loose.  This  he  accom 
plished.  The  current  carried  this  end  out  into  the  stream. 
When  the  bridge  lay  athwart  the  river,  the  end  was  made 
fast  to  the  Maryland  bank.  The  major  and  his  men  then 
crossed  the  bridge  and  attacked  the  guard,  capturing  sev 
enteen  and  dispersing  the  rest.  Then  recrossing,  they  de- 


270  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

stroyed  the  bridge.  After  sending  the  prisoners  under 
guard  toward  headquarters,  the  major  proceeded  to  Will- 
iamsport.  He  routed  the  guard  there,  taking  a  few  pris 
oners,  and  returned  in  safety.  It  was  a  daring  act  well 
done. 

The  4th,  Martindale  had  a  fight  with  some  cavalry  that 
had  taken  captive  some  Union  citizens  near  Frederick. 
After  a  hot  pursuit  he  rescued  the  captives  and  took  a  few 
of  the  enemy. 

After  the  recent  heavy  rains  the  Potomac  rose  so  that 
it  could  not  be  forded.  It  seemed  an  auspicious  occurrence. 
Lee  was  retiring  with  diminished  forces  and  ammunition 
probably  mostly  expended.  Now  was  the  opportunity  for 
the  victorious  army,  strengthened  by  reinforcements,  to 
make  its  work  complete.  The  condition  of  the  river  and 
the  destruction  of  the  pontoon  were  reported  to  General 
Meade.  But  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  was  delayed.  Lee 
guarded  his  position  well,  and  prepared  to  defend  himself. 
Hostile  parties  encountered  each  other  daily.  The  5th, 
General  Buford  with  his  cavalry  reached  Frederick.  The 
6th,  he  marched  toward  Williamsport,  but  he  found  the 
enemy  so  strongly  posted  that  it  was  useless  to  attack. 

The  Qth,  Colonel  McReynolds  was  directed  to  get  to 
gether  the  scattered  parts  of  his  brigade.  He  went  to 
Chambersburg  where  he  found  Boyd.  The  I3th,  he 
reached  Greencastle  where  Adams  was  waiting  with  the 
rest  of  the  regiment.  The  men  with  the  train  came  back 
from  their  far  wanderings. 

The  reunited  detachments  of  the  regiment  were  glad  to 
be  together  once  more.  They  congratulated  one  another 
on  what  they  had  done  during  their  active  campaign.  With 
the  loss  of  but  few  men  they  had  taken  about  three  hundred 
wagons  with  their  teams,  two  cannon  and  nearly  a  thousand 
prisoners.  Though  no  part  of  the  regiment  had  been  en- 


GETTYSBURG — EAST  OF  LEE'S  ARMY.  271 

gaged  in  the  battle  itself,  detachments  had  been  busy  on  all 
sides  and  in  the  rear  of  Lee's  army. 

The  1 4th,  the  re-collected  brigade,  now  in  Gregg's  di 
vision,  moved  from  Chambersburg  through  Leitersburg  to 
Greencastle.  There  had  been  high  hopes  that  between  the 
swollen  Potomac  behind,  and  Meade's  army  gathering  close 
around  in  front,  Lee's  army  might  be  defeated,  perhaps 
captured.  It  was  a  severe  disappointment  now  to  learn 
that  the  Confederates  were  all  safely  across  the  river.  But 
the  southern  confederacy,  too,  was  disappointed.  The  des 
perate  effort  to  win  a  victory  on  northern  ground  had  failed. 
The  rebel  war  clerk  recorded  in  his  diary :  "The  news  from 
Lee's  army  is  appalling." 

The  1 5th,  large  bodies  of  troops  were  in  motion  toward 
Boonsboro  on  their  way  back  to  Virginia.  There  were 
hard  campaigns  yet  before  them.  The  enemy  that  had  won 
so  many  victories,  from  the  first  Bull  Run  to  Chancellors- 
ville,  had  at  last  met  a  decisive  check.  But  the  riots  in 
New  York  indicated  an  enemy  in  the  rear. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
SHEPHERDSTOWN  FORD;  MARTINSBURG. 

THE  afternoon  of  the  i6th,  the  regiment  moved  from 
Hagerstown,  for  a  distance  along  the  entrenchments 
of  fence  rails  and  earth  with  which  the  Confederates  had 
encircled  themselves  while  waiting  about  Williamsport  for 
the  river  to  fall.  The  march  was  continued  below  Shep- 
herdstown  ford,  over  Antietam  battle  field.  The  men  were 
interested  in  identifying  the  places  over  which  they  had 
moved  on  the  I9th  of  September  of  the  year  before.  Com 
fortable  quarters  were  found  in  Blackford's  barn.  The 
night  was  rainy,  and  the  I7th  was  rainy.  The  i8th  was 
clear.  The  men  studied  the  situation  of  Antietam,  the 
sunken  road,  the  cornfield,  Miller's  barn,  the  Burnside 
bridge. 

The  Confederate  pickets  were  on  the  other  bank.  There 
were  frequent  friendly  conversations  with  them.  They 
kindly  expressed  a  very  favorable  opinion  of  the  First  New 
York  cavalry.  They  belonged  to  Major  Gilmore  s  battalion. 
Men  would  meet  in  midstream  to  exchange  coffee  and  to 
bacco.  Gilmore  himself  came  across  the  river  and  visited 
an  hour  with  some  of  the  I2th  Pennsylvania. 

Many  of  our  wounded  were  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy 
at  Shepherdstown.  Colonel  McReynolds  was  anxious  about 
their  condition.  He  sent  Captain  Stevenson  with  a  flag  of 
truce.  He  gave  an  account  of  his  visit: 


272 


SHEPHERDSTOWN  FORD;  MARTINSBURG.  273 

I  dressed  in  full  uniform  with  sash,  side  arms  and  spurs,  and  had 
two  men  row  me  across.  A  sentinel  halted  us  and  demanded  our 
business.  I  replied  that  I  had  a  message  for  the  officer  in  command. 
He  pointed  to  a  horseman  approaching,  saying,  "That  is  the  officer  in 
command  here."  "Who  is  he?"  "That  is  Major  Gilmore."  The 
major  dismounted  and  beckoned  me  to  approach.  There  was  such  a 
contrast  between  our  respective  "get  up,"  that  I  wished  I  had  not 
been  so  particular  about  my  personal  appearance.  I  informed  him  that 
my  errand  was  to  inquire  after  our  wounded  in  his  hands.  He  ex 
pressed  himself  well  pleased  at  meeting  one  of  the  gallant  First  New 
York  (Lincoln)  cavalry;  said  our  regiment  had  a  good  name  in  the 
Valley;  and  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  do  us  any  favor  in  his  power. 
We  might  send  a  surgeon  and  some  nurses,  with  medicines,  food,  etc., 
for  the  wounded,  but  they  would  not  be  permitted  to  return  until  his 
troops  should  leave  the  place.  I  assented,  as  I  felt  that  would  not  be 
very  long. 

He  was  standing  by  his  spirited  and  powerful  gray  horse.  He  was 
dressed  in  gray,  with  a  light  felt  hat  on  which  there  was  a  black,  droop 
ing  feather.  He  had  a  pleasant  expression,  but  his  face  had  rather  a 
German  look  with  large  blue  eyes.  He  expressed  a  desire  to  see  the 
war  at  an  end,  and  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  all. 

Dr.  Elliott  and  several  nurses  with  all  needed  supplies  went  to  the 
relief  of  the  wounded. 

The  2Oth,  Peterson,  who  had  been  wounded  at  Han 
cock,  returned.  He  had  gone  home  on  furlough.  He  had 
not  fully  recovered,  and  his  furlough  had  not  expired.  He 
could  have  had  it  extended,  but  the  news  from  the  armies 
had  made  him  impatient  to  return.  In  New  York  he  came 
near  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  rioters  to  whom  a  Union 
soldier  was  an  object  of  special  hatred.  He  was  a  good 
soldier  and  was  heartily  welcomed. 

For  the  first  time  in  many  weeks  the  regiment  was  in 
camp  in  clean  woods  near  Bunker  church,  the  little  shelter 
tents  pitched  in  order.  The  brigade  was  picketing  the  river 
for  thirty  miles,  from  Williamsport  to  Harper's  Ferry. 

Good  news  came  from  the  armies  in  the  West. 
Meade's  army  was  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  Lee  was  sup- 


274  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

posed  to  be  falling  back  to  his  old  position  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock. 

The  23rd,  Major  Quinn  with  two  hundred  men  went 
across  to  learn  the  situation.  He  went  to  Martinsburg, 
picked  up  a  few  wanderers,  and  returned,  having  found  no 
organized  force. 

The  29th,  a  force  went  out  with  two  days'  rations,  mak 
ing  a  circuit  by  Winchester  and  Berryville,  finding  no  enemy. 
August  2nd,  another  party  went  out  with  a  like  result. 

The  4th,  the  entire  brigade  moved  by  way  of  Harper's 
Ferry  to  Martinsburg.  The  lame  and  tired  horses  crossed 
the  ford  and  took  the  shortest  way.  Here  new  camps  were 
made.  That  of  the  regiment  was  in  a  piece  of  thin  woods 
on  a  broad  hill  a  short  distance  southeast  of  the  town.  It 
was  a  comfortable  camp. 

The  6th  had  been  appointed  by  the  President  as  a  day 
of  special  thanksgiving  for  recent  victories. 

With  a  few  exceptions,  the  people  of  Martinsburg  were 
loyal.  One  of  the  exceptions  was  "Colonel"  Faulkner.  He 
owned  a  farm  near  the  town  and  lived  in  a  fine,  large  man 
sion.  He  had  been  prominent  in  politics,  and  had  been 
minister  to  France.  Since  the  war  began  he  had  found  it 
convenient  to  remain  within  the  Confederate  lines.  His 
wife  and  daughters  remained  at  home.  They  had  the  ap 
pearance  of  cultivated  ladies.  They  possessed  the  art  of 
diplomacy.  They  were  very  hospitable,  and  managed  to 
secure  a  guard  for  their  premises.  "Faulkner's  woods" 
were  a  favorite  camping  ground,  and  in  spite  of  diplomacy 
and  guards,  many  of  the  fine  old  oaks  in  time  disappeared. 

Prominent  among  the  loyal  men  was  Edmund  Pendle- 
ton  who  had  used  all  his  influence  on  the  side  of  the  Union. 
His  sons  were  doing  good  service  in  the  Federal  army  and 
navy. 

There  were  places  where  the  sympathies  of  the  people 


SHEPHERDSTOWN  FORD;  MARTINSBURG.  275 

were  with  the  party  that  was,  for  the  time  being,  in  pos 
session.  An  elegant  home  in  Maryland  was  brilliant  with 
Union  colors  while  a  Federal  column  was  passing  north 
ward.  A  Union  officer  captured  at  Gettysburg,  passing  the 
same  house  as  he  was  taken  southward,  noticed  that  it  was 
gay  with  Confederate  banners.  A  part  of  the  regiment  was 
once  greeted  by  a  group  of  children  on  a  porch  with  lusty 
cheers  for  "Jeff  Davis."  A  word  of  warning  from  their 
mother  checked  them,  when  they  began  to  "hurrah  for  the 
Union !" 

In  our  previous  sojourning  in  the  Valley  some  very 
pleasant  acquaintances  had  been  made.  On  the  Shenandoah 
near  Berryville,  on  a  fine,  large  estate  lived  Mr.  Ware.  His 
sympathies  were  with  the  South,  but  he  was  a  high-minded, 
honorable  man.  Between  him  and  some  of  the  officers 
many  courtesies  were  exchanged.  He  had  some  especially 
good  horses.  He  was  invited  to  attend  the  races  at  Berry 
ville.  When  the  brigade  was  obliged  to  leave  that  place,  the 
private  baggage  of  the  officers  was  appropriated  with  other 
stores.  Mr.  Ware  procured  from  General  Lee  an  order 
directing  that  the  officers'  baggage  be  delivered  to  him. 
When  a  convenient  time  came  he  returned  it  to  the  owners. 

Near  Martinsburg  lived  Herman  Bodha,  a  discreet  and 
honest  Union  man  who  more  than  once  did  favors  to  the 
men  of  the  regiment. 

Here  lived  Belle  Boyd  who  gained  much  notoriety  as 
a  rebel  spy.  After  the  war  was  over  she  kept  herself  before 
the  public,  sometimes  an  actress,  sometimes  a  lecturer  on 
her  experiences  as  a  spy.  She  had  been  engaged  to  a  young 
captain  in  Jackson's  corps.  He  had  been  killed  in  a  skir 
mish  and  she  "vowed  vengeance."  She  related  astonishing 
experiences  in  all  sorts  of  disguises.  She  had  been  com 
missioned  captain,  and  had  ridden  with  Stuart  at  the  head 
of  his  column;  had  been  sent  by  Jefferson  Davis  with  im- 


276  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

portant  dispatches  and  three  kegs  of  gold  to  England;  had 
been  captured  on  a  blockade  runner  and  had  captivated  her 
captors. 

A  guard  was  placed  about  her  mother's  house.  She 
had  the  assurance  to  send  a  request  to  Colonel  McReynolds 
to  call  and  see  her.  He  sent  Captain  Stevenson.  Him  she 
entertained  by  appearing  clad  in  a  gold-bespangled  uniform 
of  a  captain  of  Confederate  cavalry,  with  revolver  in  belt. 
She  was  not  favorably  regarded  by  the  better  class  of  people 
in  the  Valley.  Probably  she  was  not  so  dangerous  as  a 
spy  as  her  notoriety  would  lead  one  to  think.  The  most 
efficient  spies  did  not  advertise  what  they  were  doing. 
Belle's  later  matrimonial  affairs  were  neither  creditable  nor 
happy,  according  to  her  own  admission. 

The  government  did  not  furnish  rations  of  cream  or 
milk  for  coffee.  But  a  bright  little  girl,  Katie,  brought 
regularly  her  pail  of  milk.  She  was  a  great  favorite  with 
the  men.  Her  memory  is  a  pleasant  feature  in  the  picture 
of  camp  life. 

Before  daybreak  of  the  7th  two  hundred  men  set  out. 
They  passed  through  Leetown,  named  after  General  Charles 
Lee,  for  a  time  next  in  command  to  Washington.  He  was 
dismissed  from  the  service  and  came  here  to  live.  He 
shunned  the  companionship  of  men  and  stayed  here  in  a 
rude  hut  with  only  a  pack  of  dogs  and  a  few  books  for  com 
pany.  Generals  Alex.  Stephens  and  Horatio  Gates  also 
lived  near  by.  The  line  of  march  led  to  Charlestown.  The 
beauty  and  fertility  of  the  country  were  early  known. 
Members  of  the  Washington  family  located  here.  The 
place  was  named  after  Charles,  a  brother,  of  the  general. 
Southeast  of  the  town  was  a  noted  cave.  Five  miles  away 
were  the  Shenandoah  Springs,  a  place  beautiful  in  its  pros 
pect  of  river  and  mountain.  In  an  open  field  were  the  ruins 
of  an  ancient  church  built,  no  one  could  tell  when.  Brad- 


SHEPHERDSTOWN  FORD;  MARTINSBURG.  277 

dock's  army  had  marched  through  here.  The  story  of  John 
Brown  had  made  the  place  famous.  Shepherdstown  was  the 
home  of  James  Rumsey  who,  in  1786  built  a  steamboat  that 
moved  five  miles  an  hour. 

Here  were  several  prominent  related  families,  honorable 
people — Aglionby,  Yates  and  Beall,  who  traced  their  ances 
try  to  the  time  of  the  Conqueror.  Among  their  ancestors 
was  "Belted  Will,"  the  hero  of  the  "Lay  of  the  Last  Min 
strel."  The  Beall  farm  had  taken  the  first  premium  in 
Virginia.  Some  of  the  Beall  sons  had  lived  at  Dubuque, 
Iowa,  but  they  came  home  when  the  war  began,  to  go  with 
their  state.  John  Y.  Beall  was  an  active  leader  in  many 
daring  enterprises.  He  served  on  the  lakes.  In  the  garb 
of  a  citizen  he  was  arrested  at  Niagara  Falls.  He  might 
have  avoided  an  arrest,  but  he  felt  in  honor  bound  to  save  a 
friend  and  ran  too  much  risk.  He  was  condemned  under 
General  Dix.  A  large  delegation  of  Union  people  begged 
the  President  to  spare  his  life.  But  the  laws  of  war  de 
manded  the  penalty,  and  he  was  executed.  He  met  his  fate 
like  a  brave  man. 

The  party  from  Martinsburg  went  on  to  Berryville, 
forded  the  river  and  stopped  for  the  night  in  Snicker's  Gap, 
fifty  miles.  An  early  start  was  made  the  next  morning. 
At  noon  stopped  at  Leesburg.  This  place  was  settled  by 
the  Lees.  A  few  miles  away  was  the  home  of  President 
Monroe.  This  was  also  the  home  of  John  Champe  of  Lee's 
Legion,  who,  at  the  request  of  Washington,  deserted  to  the 
British  army  in  order  to  take  captive  Benedict  Arnold  and 
bring  him  a  prisoner  into  the  American  lines.  After  the 
war  an  English  traveler  sought  a  stopping  place  for  a 
stormy  night  in  Champe's  house.  It  was  the  British  cap 
tain  in  whose  company  Champe  had  been  placed. 

A  detachment  of  the  Sixth  Michigan  was  to  have  joined 
the  New  York  men.  But  it  had  fallen  in  with  a  superior 


278  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

force  under  Mosby  and  White,  and  had  been  driven  out  of 
its  course. 

Forded  the  Potomac  at  White's  ferry  and  marched  up 
the  canal  tow  path  to  Point  of  Rocks.  The  infantry  sta 
tioned  here,  seeing  the  cavalry  coming  from  Virginia,  pre 
pared  to  receive  them  as  enemies,  but  their  mistake  was 
corrected.  Here  a  lot  of  goods  in  readiness  to  be  smuggled 
into  Virginia  was  captured. 

Returned  to  Martinsburg  on  the  loth,  a  hundred  and 
twenty  miles. 

The  1 2th,  a  scout  to  Winchester,  bringing  home  a 
single  prisoner.  The  I4th,  one  to  Smithfield  and  another 
to  Winchester,  having  a  little  skirmish.  The  i6th,  a  single 
captive  taken  at  Winchester. 

The  2Oth,  the  paymaster  paid  the  installments  for 
March  and  April.  It  had  been  a  long  interval  between  in 
stallments,  but  the  men  had  managed  to  subsist. 

Scouts  were  out  every  day.  Orderly  and  quartermaster 
sergeants  were  busy  on  muster  rolls,  and  were  trying  to  ac 
count  for  property  lost  since  June  13.  The  2ist,  Captain 
Stevenson  made  a  wide  circuit  to  the  west  and  around  to 
Winchester,  fifty  miles  in  twelve  hours,  picking  up  five  men 
and  horses.  Company  K  went  to  Berryville  and  lost  four 
men  captured. 

The  brigade  was  again  in  the  Department  of  West  Vir 
ginia,  General  Kelly  commanding. 

The  29th,  a  scout  found  part  of  Swell's  corps  at  Front 
Royal.  September  2nd,  chased  some  strollers  out  of  Win 
chester.  The  5th,  exchanged  shots  at  Middleburg ;  explored 
the  mountains  near  to  Romney ;  the  6th,  almost  to  Strasburg. 
The  night  of  the  7th,  the  pickets  of  the  2Oth  Pennsylvania 
at  Bath  were  driven  in ;  the  8th,  went  hunting  for  those  that 
did  it.  The  i  ith,  Orderly  Sergeant  Ellis  of  C  was  accident- 


SHEPHERDSTOWN  FORD;  MARTINSBURG.  279 

ally  killed  in  practice  firing.     He  was  a  fine  soldier,  and 
deeply  lamented. 

The  1 2th,  an  alarm:  "The  rebels  are  coming;  two 
thousand  at  Charlestown !"  Ordered  out  to  meet  them,  but 
they  had  gone. 

A  splendid  new  national  flag  had  been  sent  to  the  regi 
ment  by  the  authorities  of  New  York  city.  The  afternoon 
of  the  1 4th  was  set  apart  for  the  presentation.  All  the 
forces  at  the  post  were  ordered  out  for  review  on  a  level 
field  west  of  the  town.  Many  from  the  town  and  country 
came  to  see.  Colonel  McReynolds  presented  the  flag. 
Major  Harkins,  on  behalf  of  the  regiment,  accepted  it  in 
an  eloquent  speech,  in  which  he  expressed  the  wish  that  one 
of  the  stars  on  the  flag  might  descend  and  leave  its  impress 
on  the  colonel's  shoulder,  a  wish  that  was  heartily  seconded 
by  all  the  brigade. 

The  1 5th,  Quartermaster  General  Meigs,  a  gray  and 
grizzled  soldier,  visited  the  post.  The  customary  salutes 
were  fired,  and  a  review  was  held  in  his  honor. 

The  afternoon  of  the  Hth,  Captain  Jones  went  out  with 
a  hundred  men — fifty  from  the  First  and  the  same  number 
from  the  I2th,  the  latter  under  Lieut.  Irwin.  They  halted 
for  the  night  in  a  piece  of  woods  near  Charlestown.  A 
party  of  rebels  was  in  the  farther  end  of  the  same  woods. 
Both  parties  were  cautious.  There  were  no  fires,  no  talk 
ing,  no  challenging  of  sentries.  Both  were  waiting  for  the 
morning  before  troubling  each  other.  In  the  morning 
both  were  on  the  move — the  rebels  moving  away.  Jones 
sent  twenty-five  to  follow  them  up  leisurely,  while  with 
twenty-five  more  he  cut  across  the  country  to  head  them  off. 
The  enemy  seemed  increasing  in  numbers  and  courage,  and 
were  soon  seen  returning.  The  captain  formed  the  I2th 
in  line  across  the  road,  with  orders  to  advance,  when  the 
other  detachment  would  join  in.  But  the  I2th  did  not  stand 


280  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

their  ground.  Seeing  this,  the  enemy  came  on  with  a  yell. 
Bailey  and  Poindexter  checked  the  retreat.  The  first 
twenty-five  now  charged  in  the  rear  of  the  rebels.  It  seemed 
to  the  captain  that  he  had  the  enemy  all  secure,  but  the  fail 
ure  of  the  1 2th  to  do  what  he  expected  of  them  spoiled  his 
plans.  He  was  left  alone.  In  disgust  he  returned  his 
sabre,  and  drawing  a  revolver,  began  firing  among  the  en 
emy.  It  seemed  that  he  could  not  miss  that  crowd.  But 
at  the  fourth  shot  a  ball  struck  his  pistol  guard,  breaking 
it,  and  paralyzing  his  hand.  Two  of  his  fingers  were  partly 
shattered.  He  concluded  he  could  not  accomplish  any  more 
there,  and  looked  to  see  how  he  could  get  away.  It  was  too 
late  for  him  to  get  into  the  road.  He  made  for  a  gate  in  a 
high  board  fence,  less  than  a  hundred  yards  away.  Five 
men  followed  him,  one  of  them  shouting,  "You  are  my 
mutton!"  "Old  fellow,  not  yet!"  the  captain  replied,  and 
turning  in  his  saddle  fired  at  him.  He  succeeded  in  getting 
through  the  gate.  Two  of  the  five  stopped.  The  other 
three  followed  him.  He  was  delayed  in  trying  to  get  his 
horse  across  a  brook.  His  pursuers  were  not  more  than  a 
rod  or  two  behind  him  calling  upon  him  to  surrender.  But 
they  were  delayed  at  the  brook  and  he  now  increased  the 
distance  between  them.  But  he  found  himself  in  a  fenced 
cornfield.  He  tried  to  jump  the  fence,  but  his  horse  had 
been  wounded  and  was  failing.  He  dismounted,  and  tak 
ing  his  other  revolver  from  the  holster  he  climbed  over,  first 
one  fence,  and  then  a  second,  his  pursuers  still  firing  at  him. 
They  stopped  to  let  down  the  fences,  while  he  ran  to  a  tree, 
and  taking  refuge  behind  it  exchanged  shots  with  them, 
keeping  them  at  a  safe  distance.  His  ammunition  was  soon 
gone,  and  there  was  nothing  to  do  then  but  to  surrender. 
They  were  disposed  to  be  rough  with  him  until  they  learned 
to  what  regiment  he  belonged.  Then  they  offered  to  go 
back  with  him  to  get  his  horse.  But  his  horse  was  dying. 


SHEPHERDSTOWN  FORD;  MARTINSBURG.  281 

In  passing  through  the  opening  in  the  fence  the  horse  of  one 
of  them  fell.  Just  then  the  captain  heard  a  halloo,  and 
looking  upj  saw  one  of  his  sergeants  coming  over  a  hill. 
Seeing  three  rebels  the  sergeant  halted.  The  captain  took 
off  his  hat  and  waving  it,  shouted :  "Come  on,  sergeant, 
don't  you  know  me?"  The  sergeant,  flourishing  his  re 
volver,  came  on  with  a  yell.  The  captain  said  to  his  two 
captors  who  were  mounted,  "If  you  want  to  get  away,  now 
is  your  time.  The  whole  company  is  right  behind  him." 
They  started  off  and  the  sergeant  started  after  them.  He 
brought  back  one  of  them,  a  prisoner.  The  dismounted 
man  surrendered,  handing  back  to  the  captain  the  revolver 
he  had  lately  received  from  him,  and  his  own  arms  as  well. 

In  the  meantime  Bailey,  Poindexter  and  Irwin,  after 
repeated  charges  and  counter  charges,  had  got  the  enemy  on 
the  run,  and  after  a  chase  of  several  miles  had  captured  ten 
of  them.  Three  of  their  own  men  were  wounded. 

The  i Qth,  a  large  force  with  Captain  Bailey  in  command 
went  out  for  two  days.  At  Strasburg  eleven  of  Gilmore's 
men  and  some  conscript  officers  were  captured  without  much 
fighting.  Philip  Burke  of  D  was  accidentally  shot.  He 
died  the  next  day  at  Martinsburg. 

The  2ist,  news  came  of  a  battle  by  Rosecrans'  army. 

The  22nd,  a  scouting  party  was  sent  out  for  two  days. 
It  went  to  Gerardstown,  Pughtown,  and  came  into  Win 
chester  from  the  west.  No  armed  enemies. 

It  was  now  known  that  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
came  near  being  a  disastrous  defeat.  For  several  days 
troops  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  were  passing  over 
the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  to  reinforce  the  army  at  Chattanooga. 
These  were  the  corps  of  Slocum  and  Howard,  all  under  the 
command  of  Hooker.  The  picket  lines  were  strengthened 
along  the  line  of  the  road  to  prevent,  as  much  as  possible, 
news  of  this  movement  getting  outside  the  lines. 


282  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  27th,  a  scout  went  out  for  two  days. 

For  a  few  days  the  men  were  busy  moving  the  camp 
from  the  thin  woods  on  the  hill  to  an  open  field  to  the  south. 

October  ist,  there  was  an  alarm:  "Saddle  up,  all 
hands !"  A  strong  force  was  ordered  to  Bunker  Hill.  Im- 
boden  with  several  hundred  men  had  come  down  the  valley 
and  gone  back,  without  waiting  for  a  fight. 

The  4th,  paid  for  four  months,  from  May  to  Aug.  31. 
As  usual  a  portion  of  this  was  due  to  the  sutler.  David 
A.  Bennett  had  been  captain  of  Co.  F  from  its  organization. 
He  had  always  been  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  men. 
For  some  reason  he  had  resigned  his  captaincy  and  re-en 
tered  the  service  as  sutler.  It  looked  as  if  the  new  camp 
was  to  be  permanent,  and  the  late  captain  had  provided  an 
abundant  supply  of  all  things  that  the  men  in  camp  would 
be  likely  to  need.  But  just  after  "taps"  on  the  evening  of 
this  pay  day,  there  was  a  sudden  rush  in  the  darkness.  Tent 
pins  were  pulled  up,  and  in  a  few.  minutes  the  sutler's  stock 
had  disappeared.  The  next  morning  the  officer  of  the 
guard,  attended  by  a  detail,  passed  through  all  the  company 
streets  and  in  front  of  every  tent,  but  found  none  of  the 
missing  goods. 

The  Germans  in  the  regiment  built  for  themselves  a 
"music  hall,"  and  here  in  the  evenings  they  would  meet  for 
social  enjoyment.  It  was  always  a  pleasure  to  attend  their 
concerts  of  songs  and  stories. 

The  7th,  Major  Quinn  went  out  to  Berry ville,  White 
Post  and  Newtown,  returning  on  the  loth  with  a  few 
prisoners. 

The  1 2th,  two  hundred  were  ordered  by  a  roundabout 
way  to  Berryville.  Here  they  rested  till  after  midnight 
when  they  continued  their  way  nearly  to  Front  Royal  and 
across  to  Winchester,  and  home.  They  heard  rumors  that 


SHEPHERDSTOWN  FORD;  MARTINSBURG.  283 

a  large  force  was  preparing  to  come  down  the  valley,  and 
orders  in  camp  were  to  keep  saddled  and  prepared. 

This  kind  of  service,  interesting  and  exciting  with  its 
many  adventures,  brought  out  some  daring  young  fellows 
who  became  expert  in  scouting.  Citizens  sometimes  had 
been  pressed  into  the  service  as  guides.  Among  the  moun 
tains  a  Mr.  Moss,  who  had  been  obliged  to  leave  his  home 
and  family  because  of  his  opinions,  had  served  the  Union 
forces  well.  He  had  been  captured  by  the  Confederates  and 
condemned,  but  had  escaped.  At  Martinsburg  a  man  called 
Noakes  had  done  efficient  service,  who  made  his  trips  into 
the  enemy's  country  pay  him  well  in  horses.  Hyatt  Brown 
had  long  been  a  trusted  scout. 

But  now  the  men  of  the  regiment  had  become  well  ac 
quainted  with  every  part  of  the  Valley.  They  had  come  to 
know  every  road  and  byway. 

Among  these  were  Edwin  F.  Savacool  and  Charles  D. 
Vosburg  of  Co.  K ;  Napoleon  Valentine,  George  S.  Peavey, 
R.  S.  Dorman  and  Henry  C.  H.  Wilson  of  Co.  B ;  and  James 
Dunn,  Edward  J.  and  Henry  J.  Goubleman  of  Co.  D. 

Some  one  of  these  men,  in  varying  attire,  as  circum 
stances  seemed  to  make  necessary,  would  go  on  far  in  ad 
vance  of  a  scouting  party.  He  would  assume  a  character 
that  seemed  at  the  time  best  adapted  to  his  purpose.  He 
would  be  all  things  to  all  men,  if  so  he  could  pick  up  inform 
ation,  or  capture  a  Confederate  off  duty  and  visiting  his 
friends.  His  information,  or  his  prisoner,  he  would  hand 
over  to  the  advance  of  the  party  following  him.  They 
would  go  out  alone  and  be  gone  several  days.  Savacool 
acted  the  part  of  a  mail  carrier,  collecting  and  delivering 
letters  and  packages  along  his  route. 

October  I4th,  he  encountered  Gilmore  with  his  battal 
ion  near  Newtown.  It  was  too  late  to  evade  him.  He  had 
picked  up  some  of  Gilmore' s  men  from  time  to  time.  He 


284  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

was  afraid  some  one  in  the  troop  might  recognize  him.  The 
only  thing  to  do  was  to  put  on  a  bold  front,  tell  as  straight 
a  story  as  he  could,  and  take  his  chances.  It  so  happened 
that  a  lady  in  Winchester  had  handed  him  a  letter  to  be  left 
at  some  point  for  Gilmore  himself.  This  letter  he  now  took 
from  his  pouch  and  handed  to  Gilmore.  The  major's  sus 
picions  were  quieted.  The  letter  evidently  contained  good 
news.  The  two  men  became  friends.  "They  drank  from 
the  same  canteen,"  and  that  was  the  major's.  He  became 
communicative  and  imparted  to  his  new  friend  a  secret.  He 
was  on  his  way  down  Back  creek  to  burn  the  railroad  bridge. 
Savacool  had  important  errands  and  could  not  delay.  Leav 
ing  Gilmore  he  resumed  his  way  toward  the  south.  Then 
making  a  circuit  he  rode  rapidly  back  to  Martinsburg  and 
reported  to  Colonel  McReynolds. 

A  hundred  men  were  at  once  detailed  from  the  First 
and  Twelfth,  and  sent  out  under  Captain  Prendergast  of 
the  former,  and  Captain  Henry  of  the  latter.  The  infantry 
at  North  Mountain  station  was  notified  to  look  out  for  the 
bridge. 

Gilmore  stopped  to  visit  the  writer  of  his  letter,  send 
ing  Captain  Blackford  on  with  his  men.  These  had  halted 
in  a  retired  spot  surrounded  by  woods,  to  wait  until  night 
fall,  and  "Then  darkling  try  their  dangerous  way." 

Prendergast  was  fortunate  in  learning  the  situation. 
He  sent  Captain  Henry  around  to  the  farther  side  to  cut 
off  the  retreat.  Some  of  Blackford's  men  were  sleeping, 
some  fishing,  and  some  bathing  in  the  creek  when  Prender 
gast  and  his  men  burst  in  upon  them,  capturing  Blackford 
and  his  lieutenant,  thirty  men  and  thirty-six  horses. 

The  1 6th,  another  detail  went  to  Smithfield,  Berry ville 
and  Charlestown.  Here  six  men  from  Co.  B  with  a 
few  of  Somers'  men  were  sent  back  to  Berryville  for  some 
purpose.  A  number  of  the  enemy  appeared  and  disputed 


SHEPHERDSTOWN  FORD;  MARTINSBURG.  285 

the  right  of  way.  Sergeant  Westbrook  attacked  them. 
There  was  a  lively  skirmish  with  what  proved  to  be  a  su 
perior  force.  Westbrook  did  his  best,  but  had  to  retire, 
losing  Jerome  Bell  and  John  Stuart,  two  good  men,  captured, 
but  who,  after  several  months  in  prison,  returned  to  do  good 
service. 

At  midnight  of  the  i/th,  another  force  set  out  under 
Captain  Leavitt  to  investigate.  At  sunrise  this  force  dashed 
into  Winchester,  taking  three  prisoners  who  were  visiting 
friends.  More  were  probably  in  hiding  in  the  town.  On  to 
wards  Berryville.  Before  entering  the  place  it  was  seen  that 
the  Confederates  were  there  in  too  large  force  to  be  assailed. 
Back  to  Martinsburg  by  way  of  Jordan  Springs  and  Bunker 
Hill. 

Cannonading  and  musketry  had  been  heard  in  the  di 
rection  of  Charlestown,  and  infantry  and  artillery  were  hur 
ried  off  for  assistance. 

It  was  Imboden's  force  that  had  been  seen  in  Berry 
ville.  From  there  he  moved  quickly  to  Charlestown  where 
the  Ninth  Maryland  volunteers,  Colonel  Simpson,  were  en 
camped.  By  a  well-planned  and  vigorous  attack,  Imboden 
captured  almost  the  entire  regiment.  He  then  quickly  with 
drew.  General  Sullivan  from  Harper's  Ferry  sent  a  force 
in  pursuit,  but  Imboden  was  at  a  safe  distance  with  all  his 
400,  or  more,  prisoners.  It  was  a  bold  thing  cleverly  done, 
and  more  than  balanced  all  of  our  smaller  successes.  A  few 
of  the  prisoners  escaped  and  found  their  way  back.  They 
reported  Imboden's  force  at  two  thousand. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
CHARLESTOWN. 

TOWARD  night,  October  19,  all  available  men  of  the 
regiment  were  ordered  to  Charlestown.  It  was  a 
cold  night.  The  mud  was  deep,  with  a  frozen  crust.  They 
reached  the  town  about  2  o'clock.  Companies  and  messes 
looked  for  comfortable  quarters,  and  as  a  general  thing 
found  them,  for  it  had  been  a  thrifty,  prosperous  town. 
Company  B  was  fortunate  in  finding  a  large  livery  barn. 
There  was  a  long  dirt  floor  from  front  to  rear,  with  stalls 
on  either  side.  The  loft  was  well  filled  with  hay.  The 
men  were  chilled  with  their  long  night  ride,  and  now  they 
built  fires  on  the  ground  floor,  and  making  thick  beds  of 
hay,  lay  around  the  fires  like  the  spokes  of  a  wheel,  and 
slept  as  peacefully  as  if  they  had  no  memories  of  evil  deeds 
to  trouble  them.  The  morning  was  clear  and  bright.  The 
men  were  up  early,  foraging  for  breakfast. 

By  a  fire  of  fence  pickets  at  the  edge  of  the  sidewalk 
immediately  in  front  of  the  barn,  sat  Charles  R.  Peterson 
leaning  back  against  a  tree.  He  had  found  some  chickens 
which  he  had  skinned,  fried  and  eaten.  His  face  was  aglow 
with  chicken  grease  and  contentment.  A  .tall,  stern  Vir 
ginian,  with  an  anxious  look  on  his  dark  features,  came 
along.  He  stopped  by  Peterson  and  expressed  some  fear 
of  danger  from  the  fire  so  near  his  barn.  Peterson  with  a 
grunt  expressive  of  fullness  and  unconcern,  replied:  "Huh, 


CHARLESTOWN.  287 

we  have  had  fires  inside  all  night.  Look  in  there  and  see 
them,  and  you  won't  worry  about  this  out  here." 

The  2ist  and  22nd  Pennsylvania  and  Major  Cole's 
battalion  of  Maryland  cavalry  had  been  ordered  here,  with 
Colonel  Boyd,  lately  our  Captain  Boyd,  of  the  first  named 
regiment  in  command.  The  morning  of  the  2Oth,  with  all 
these  forces  Boyd  set  out  for  Winchester.  Here  several 
Confederate  officers  were  found  and  taken.  It  was  learned 
that  Imboden  with  all  his  force  was  at  Strasburg.  The 
wagon  train  came  with  all  the  equipage,  and  the  regiment 
made  a  new  camp  in  a  fine  piece  of  woods  just  outside  the 
town.  Some  of  the  men  found  cook  stoves  which  they  put 
up  in  their  tents.  Other  articles  of  furniture  were  found 
that  added  to  comfort  in  quarters.  The  court  house  in 
which  John  Brown  was  tried  was  explored.  A  table  at 
which  attorneys  probably  sat,  made  a  very  convenient  writ 
ing  desk  for  the  orderly  sergeant  of  B.  Some  things  were 
done  by  a  few  lawless  soldiers  that  were  severely  condemned 
by  the  better  ones. 

The  26th,  all  available  men  were  ordered  out  with  two 
days'  rations.  A  part  of  this  force  went  by  way  of  Win 
chester,  and  a  part  by  way  of  Berryville  and  Front  Royal 
to  Strasburg.  Captain  Stevenson  with  the  advance  picked 
up  about  twenty  captives,  some  of  them  staff  officers  of  im 
portance.  There  was  some  skirmishing  at  long  range  with 
small  bands. 

Savacool,  dressed  in  gray,  as  was  his  way,  went  on 
far  in  advance  alone.  Near  Millwood  he  found  a  horse, 
fully  equipped,  tied  by  the  roadside.  His  Confederate 
rider  was  overhead  in  a  tree  top  picking  persimmons.  Sava 
cool  called  to  him  to  come  down  quickly,  for  a  force  of 
Yankees  was  coming.  The  Confederate  "made  haste  and 
came  down,"  when  he  found  himself  a  prisoner.  He  sub 
mitted  with  as  good  grace  as  possible.  Waiting  till  the  ad- 


288  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

vance  came  up,  Savacool  turned  over  his  prisoner  and  again 
went  on  alone. 

Between  the  forks  of  the  Shenandoah  lived  Mr.  Rich 
ards.  Mrs.  Richards'  former  husband  was  a  Mr.  Baylor. 
Her  son  was  in  Mosby's  troop,  and  had  become  known  as 
a  bold  and  dangerous  fellow  in  a  fight.  Savacool  had  been 
told  by  a  colored  man  in  the  neighborhood,  that  young  Bay 
lor  was  then  at  his  mother's.  He  determined  to  capture 
him.  He  fearlessly  but  civilly  entered  the  house.  Baylor 
was  there,  having  laid  aside  his  arms,  visiting  with  his 
mother.  Savacool,  saying  that  he  was  a  Confederate  cav 
alryman,  entered  into  a  friendly  conversation,  hoping  to 
entertain  them  until  the  advance  should  come  up.  After  a 
while  he  noticed  that  Baylor  began  to  be  suspicious  and 
restless.  He  noticed  a  gun  resting  on  some  brackets  by  the 
side  of  the  room.  Finally,  rising  from  his  chair,  Baylor  re 
marked  to  his  mother  that  he  had  noticed  some  ducks  out  on 
the  river,  and  he  believed  he  would  take  his  gun  and  go  out 
and  see  if  he  couldn't  get  a  few.  Before  he  could  reach  the 
gun  Savacool  was  on  his  feet  with  his  revolver  drawn, 
threatening  to  fire  if  Baylor  moved  another  step.  Baylor 
grasped  hold  of  the  revolver,  but  found  his  thumb  caught 
under  the  hammer  as  Savacool  pulled  the  trigger.  He 
drew  his  hand  away  and  endeavored  to  clinch  with  Sava 
cool,  but  the  latter  was  too  quick  for  him.  He  held  him 
at  the  muzzle  of  his  cocked  pistol,  steadily  watching  him 
in  the  eye,  and  in  this  manner  compelled  him  to  follow  him 
out  of  the  room.  His  mother,  hiding  a  small  revolver  be 
hind  her,  endeavored  to  slip  it  into  her  son's  hands,  but 
Savacool' s  threat  to  fire  if  she  attempted  it,  caused  her  to 
cease.  He  held  his  prisoner  at  the  end  of  his  revolver 
until  the  advance  came  up.  The  mother  begged  that  her 
son  might  be  treated  kindly.  But  that  same  night  the  fel 
low  got  away  from  the  guard  and  escaped. 


CHARLESTOWN.  289 

It  was  learned  that  Imboden  had  gone  back  as  far  as 
Mt.  Jackson.  Some  more  of  the  prisoners  he  had  taken  at 
Charlestown  had  escaped,  and  were  finding  their  way  back. 

The  29th,  a  scout  to  Winchester.  The  3Oth,  Captain 
Jones  with  A  again  went  out,  and  after  a  lively  skirmish 
and  a  quick  pursuit,  brought  in  ten  captives,  with  no  casu 
alties  in  his  own  ranks. 

Charlestown  was  a  cultured,  high  toned  community,  a 
place  of  churches  and  schools.  At  an  excellent  school  for 
young  ladies  here,  Harriet  Lane,  the  niece  of  President 
Buchanan,  and  mistress  of  the  White  House  during  his  ad 
ministration,  had  attended  school.  Many  of  the  people 
were  in  intimate  social  relations  with  the  most  prominent 
families  in  the  country. 

The  writer  frequently  received  letters  from  an  attorney 
in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  relating  to  the  business  interests  of  the 
Beall  family  in  that  place,  that  have  been  mentioned.  In 
delivering  these  letters  he  made  the  valued  acquaintance  of 
one  of  the  most  honorable  families  to  be  found  either  in 
the  South  or  the  North. 

At  midnight  of  November  3  a  hundred  men  set  out 
under  Captain  Bailey.  By  rough  and  crooked  roads  at 
daylight  they  reached  Brucetown  on  the  Opequon,  the 
scene  of  the  fight  of  June  I3th.  Here,  dividing  into  sev 
eral  parties,  they  went  in  different  directions  with  the  pur 
pose  of  closing  in  upon  some  Confederates,  but  they  had 
disappeared.  Five  foolhardy  fellows  were  found  visiting 
their  homes.  They  were  torn  away  from  their  hearthstones 
and  compelled  to  come  along. 

The  6th,  Bailey  took  part  of  his  company  to  Win 
chester.  While  waiting  in  the  main  street,  a  squad  of  Gil- 
more's  men  appeared  at  the  farther  end  of  the  street  and 
made  a  bold  dash  at  them.  Bailey  retired  a  little,  turned 


290  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

a  corner,  rode  around  a  block,  and  came  in  on  the  enemy's 
rear,  killing  one,  wounding  a  few,  and  capturing  five. 

The  same  day  there  came  rumors  that  Imboden  was 
again  coming  down  the  Valley.  A  large  detail  was  ordered 
out  for  four  days  under  Col.  Boyd.  Started  at  sunset. 
Passed  through  Berryville  and  at  midnight  halted  in  the 
woods  near  Millwood.  Started  again  at  sunrise.  Passed 
through  White  Post,  ran  down  and  captured  five  Confed 
erates,  forded  the  river,  and  at  noon  stopped  in  Front  Royal. 
Again  forded  the  river  and  went  to  Newtown,  there  halt 
ing  for  the  night  in  the  road  by  a  cornfield  that  furnished 
supper  and  breakfast  for  horses  and  men.  Joined  in  the 
morning  of  the  8th  by  Cole's  battalion  that  on  the  way  had 
killed  one  Confederate  and  taken  two.  The  forces  sep 
arated  and  went  on  in  different  ways  to  Strasburg,  and 
reached  Woodstock  at  dark.  Captured  twenty  men  and  a 
number  of  horses  and  some  stores.  Returned  to  Strasburg 
and  at  midnight  halted  for  the  rest  of  the  night  around  the 
former  headquarters  of  Banks,  Fremont  and  McDowell. 

Marched  at  9  in  the  morning  of  the  9th.  Took  dinner 
in  Winchester,  reached  Berryville  at  dark  in  a  blinding  snow 
storm,  and  arrived  at  Charlestown  at  midnight,  hungry, 
cold  and  tired,  to  find  that  General  Sullivan,  fearing  an 
attack  by  Imboden,  had  ordered  the  tents  taken  down  and 
removed  to  Harper's  Ferry  for  safety!  The  night  was 
very  cold,  and  the  situation  was  not  conducive  to  cheerful 
ness  or  moderate  speech. 

The  next  day  the  camp  equipage  was  brought  back 
and  the  tents  were  pitched  again  in  Tait's  woods,  the  "Fair 
ground." 

Sergeant  Westbrook  was  out  in  charge  of  the  picket 
post  on  the  Berryille  road.  His  tent  mate  was  Besley,  and 
both  were  good  at  foraging.  Besley  asked  leave  at  night  to 
visit  the  pickets.  He  rode  a  magnificent  private  Black 


CHARLESTOWN.  291 

Hawk  horse,  coal  black,  well  suited  for  scouting  on  a  moon 
less  night.  He  returned  with  eleven  full  grown  turkeys 
hanging  about  his  saddle.  It  was  getting  near  Thanks 
giving.  Friends  at  home  were  remembering  the  boys  with 
occasional  boxes  of  good  things.  The  new  quarters  were 
built  for  the  winter,  and  were  made  to  seem  quite  comfort 
able  and  homelike. 

The  1 5th,  the  tireless  Boyd  went  out  again  with  seven 
hundred,  and  three  pieces  of  artillery.  Reached  Strasburg 
and  stopped  for  the  night.  The  next  morning  at  Wood 
stock  the  advance,  A  and  C,  under  Captain  Stevenson,  found 
in  their  front  a  squadron  of  cavalry.  These  they  drove 
before  them,  capturing  an  officer  and  a  few  men  including 
a  -mail  carrier.  At  Edenburg  they  encountered  a  larger 
force  which  attempted  to  check  them.  This  force,  too,  was 
routed.  Again  near  Mount  Jackson  the  enemy  made  a  de 
termined  stand.  The  men  of  the  advance  became  excited 
over  their  success,  and  charged  again,  routing  the  enemy 
and  pursuing  them.  But  they  went  too  far,  and  now  found 
themselves  in  the  midst  of  a  large  force,  infantry,  artillery 
and  cavalry.  Daniel  Black  of  C  was  killed.  Sergeant 
McGuckin  of  the  same  company  and  Ethan  A.  Taylor  of  K 
were  captured.  McGuckin  died  in  prison.  These  were  all 
brave  men,  as  proved  by  their  last  reckless  charge.  They 
had  captured  an  officer  and  several  men. 

Colonel  Boyd  now  came  up,  formed  line  of  battle  and 
brought  his  artillery  into  action.  The  enemy  replied,  and 
the  fighting  continued  for  some  time  with  vigor  on  both 
sides. 

Corporal  John  H.  Hoagland  of  F  was  struck  by  a  shell 
which  tore  away  the  right  side  of  his  head.  As  he  fell  to 
the  ground  his  horse  ran  forward  into  the  enemy's  lines. 

Hoagland  was  a  classically  educated,  intelligent,  bright 
man.  At  the  discussions  in  the  old  church  at  Springfield, 


292  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

in  the  fall  of  1862  he  was  a  frequent  and  entertaining 
speaker.  He  had  written  regularly  for  the  newspapers 
over  the  name  of  "Grape  Shot."  His  letters  were  excellent 
descriptions  of  army  life  and  operations.  At  the  time  he 
was  killed  he  was  at  the  front,  not  because  he  had  been  or 
dered  there,  but  because  he  wanted  to  see  all  that  was  going 
on,  that  he  might  write  an  account  of  it.  It  was  not  an  un 
usual  thing  to  see  correspondents  out  on  the  skirmish  line 
and  even  in  front  of  it,  looking  for  news.  Hoagland  was 
a  brave  and  efficient  soldier,  and  his  death  was  sincerely 
lamented. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  fight  a  skirmish  line  had  been 
thrown  out.  Lieutenant  O.  B.  Knowles  in  charge  of  this 
line  pressed  forward  until  he  could  see  that  the  main  body 
of  the  enemy  had  been  withdrawn.  Boyd  then  pushed  for 
ward.  A  body  of  cavalry  taking  the  lead  dashed  forward, 
capturing  a  number  of  men  and  part  of  their  wagon  train. 
The  rest  had  fallen  back  across  the  river,  and  were  prepared 
to  defend  the  bridge. 

It  might  cost  too  much  to  attempt  anything  further. 
Imboden  had  been  driven  from  his  camp,  with  a  loss  of 
more  than  thirty  officers  and  men  as  prisoners,  ten  wagons 
loaded  with  various  supplies,  more  than  a  hundred  horses, 
fifty  tents  and  a  considerable  drove  of  cattle.  Other  prop 
erty  that  could  not  be  brought  away  was  destroyed.  Im- 
boden's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  could  not  be  learned. 

The  enemy,  at  home  among  the  mountains  and  through 
the  valleys,  always  had  the  advantage.  Different  parties 
followed  Boyd  on  his  return.  During  a  brief  halt  at  Eden- 
burg,  and  again  at  the  night's  bivouac  a  few  miles  farther 
on,  these  parties  stole  near  and  made  several  attacks  with 
out  accomplishing  anything  except  to  teach  the  men  vigi 
lance.  They  reached  camp  the  i8th,  having  marched  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles. 


CHARLESTOWN.  293 

The  1 9th,  paid  for  the  months  of  September  and 
October.  The  same  day  Lieutenants  Hinton  and  Poindex- 
ter,  with  six  enlisted  men,  went  home  to  recruit  for  all  the 
companies.  The  detail  had  been  well-selected.  Hinton 
was  a  man  well  informed  on  all  military  subjects,  and  pos 
sessed  excellent  judgment  in  presenting  matters  to  all  ask 
ing  for  information.  He  had  not  been  especially  popular 
when  first  made  a  second  lieutenant,  but  he  came  to  be 
highly  respected.  Some  of  the  men  detailed  could  tell 
marvelous  stories  to  arouse  the  enthusiasm  of  new  recruits. 
One  of  them  was  known  as  the  "boss  liar  of  the  regiment." 

In  the  meantime  the  men  were  making  their  quarters 
comfortable  for  the  winter.  Unused  lumber  found  any 
where  around  the  country,  even  from  old  vacant  buildings, 
was  appropriated  for  sheds  for  the  horses. 

Scouts  were  all  the  while  out,  but  nothing  of  special  in 
terest  occurred. 

The  lieutenant  colonel,  the  majors,  and  some  of  the 
captains  were  absent  on  scouts  or  on  leave.  Some  were 
under  arrest.  One  captain  had  been  in  Harper's  Ferry  for 
weeks  under  arrest,  and  his  company  got  along  very  well 
without  him.  This  was  not  his  first  experience  of  the  kind, 
nor  was  it  his  last. 

Captain  Bailey,  commanding  the  regiment  for  the  time 
being,  issued  an  order  for  the  observance  of  Thanksgiving 
the  26th.  He  was  a  good  man  everywhere,  and  univer 
sally  liked. 

The  good  news  from  Grant  at  Chattanooga  was  a  new 
cause  for  thanksgiving.  The  day  was  quietly  observed,  but 
there  was  sincere  gratitude  for  progress  made  and  for  the 
hopeful  prospect. 

As  had  been  done  in  every  place  where  a  permanent 
camp  had  been  made,  a  race  course  was  laid  out. 

There  were  companies  without  a  single  commissioned 


294  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

officer  present.  To  one  of  these  a  German  lieutenant  had 
been  temporarily  assigned.  A  former  sergeant,  who  had 
received  a  commission  three  months  before,  but  had  not 
been  mustered  because  the  company  was  below  the  mini 
mum,  had  indulged  in  apple  jack  for  relief  in  his  disappoint 
ment.  He  looked  upon  the  German  as  an  intruder  in  his 
company.  He  showed  fight.  A  crowd  formed  a  big  ring 
around  the  two.  Neither  one  was  a  favorite.  "Let  them 
fight."  Like  the  affair  of  the  captain  and  his  men  over 
Nip's  haggled  tail,  it  might  have  been  a  case  of  "Nip  and 
Tuck."  By  main  force  a  few  men  kept  the  two  apart.  The 
German  asked  to  be  relieved  from  his  temporary  assign 
ment,  and  the  orderly  sergeant  remained  for  a  long  time  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  company. 

A  scout  brought  in  the  report  that  Imboden's  men  had 
been  seen  around  Millwood.  The  5th,  a  large  force  went 
to  see,  but  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  river  at  Berry's  ferry. 
Two  prisoners  were  brought  back. 

General  Sullivan  seemed  determined  to  protect  the  B. 
&  O.  R.  R.  and  to  suffer  no  more  surprises,  and  he  had  the 
cavalry  scouring  the  Valley  and  the  region  beyond  the  Blue 
Ridge  continually. 


HARPER'S   FERRY. 


JOHN  BROWN'S  FORT. 


JOHN  BROWN'S  MONUMENT  AND  TABLETS. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
THE  FIFTEEN  DAYS'  SCOUT. 

/*X  T  noon,  December  10,  Boyd  set  out  with  a  formidable 
-L  ^-  force,  a  thousand  infantry,  nearly  the  same  number 
of  cavalry  and  a  battery  of  artillery.  A  long  train  of  wag 
ons  followed  as  if  for  a  long  campaign.  The  infantry  took 
the  most  direct  way,  but  the  cavalry  were  busy  on  both  sides 
of  the  direct  line  of  march.  The  First  halted  at  night  in 
woods  near  Millwood,  25  miles.  Cold.  A  few  rebels 
about,  and  a  few  shots  exchanged.  The  nth,  joined  by  a 
party  that  had  gone  through  Loudon  county.  A  rainy  day. 
Marched  to  Newtown,  seeing  an  occasional  enemy  at  a 
distance.  Stopped  for  the  night  in  Chrisman's  woods. 

The  forenoon  of  the  I2th,  waited  for  the  infantry  to 
come  up.  At  2  p.m.  moved  on  to  Strasburg,  ten  miles.  A 
rainy  day  and  night.  Rested  in  the  woods  on  Fisher's  Hill. 

The  1 3th  was  clear.  The  sergeant  and  men  of  Co.  B 
voted  to  go  with  Bailey  and  Co.  K.  Across  fields,  through 
woods,  over  fences,  after  scattering  Confederates,  up  the 
Back  road.  One  party  going  up  the  pike  found  there  were 
some  Confederate  cavalry  just  outside  of  Woodstock.  Sav- 
acool  and  Warren  were  in  the  advance,  but  there  were  sev 
eral  others  close  behind.  When  the  enemy  saw  these  com 
ing  they  commenced  to  scatter,  some  going  toward  the 
river  and  others  to  the  west  toward  the  mountain,  while  a 
single  one  kept  right  on  up  the  pike.  The  two  in  advance 


295 


296  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

kept  their  eyes  on  this  one,  and  were  going  at  a  rapid  rate. 
The  women  in  the  houses  cheered  them  on,  supposing  from 
their  gray  suits  that  they  were  Southerners,  calling  to  them, 
"Run,  run,  the  Yankees  are  coming!"  The  one  whom  they 
were  after  had  a  very  fine  horse.  He  turned  in  his  saddle 
and  called,  "Come  on,  boys,  I'll  wait  for  you."  The  two 
came  on  as  fast  as  they  could,  and  ran  up  on  opposite  sides 
of  him.  Savacool  said,  "You  are  a  prisoner;  please  dis 
mount  and  I  will  change  horses  with  you."  He  was  very 
angry,  as  with  his  very  fast  mare  he  could  easily  have  out 
run  his  pursuers.  The  prisoner  was  Lieutenant  H.  H.  Rid- 
dleberger,  afterward  United  States  senator  from  Virginia. 
The  same  day  these  two  men,  reinforced  by  William 
Parker  of  Co.  F,  a  capital  fellow  and  soldier,  were  moving 
along  a  few  miles  beyond  Woostock.  A  quarter  of  a  mile 
ahead  they  saw  four  mounted  men  coming  toward  them. 
The  three  halted  and  waited  for  the  four.  They  had  their 
revolvers  in  hand,  hanging  down  back  of  their  legs.  They 
waited  until  the  four  were  within  twenty  feet  of  them,  when 
they  raised  their  pistols  and  called  to  them  to  surrender. 
The  four  were  a  captain,  two  lieutenants,  and  an  orderly 
sergeant.  The  last  named  was  a  little  behind  the  others  and 
turned  and  fled.  The  captain  threw  up  his  hands  and  cried, 
"What  is  the  matter  with  you?  We  are  all  right."  Sava 
cool  replied,  "We  are  Yanks,  and  we  want  your  arms.  Un 
buckle  your  belts  and  hand  them  over,  and  be  quick !"  The 
captain  said,  "I  did  not  think  there  was  a  Yankee  within  a 
hundred  miles  of  here.  You  fellows  sat  there  so  uncon 
cerned  that  I  took  you  for  some  of  our  own  men.  But, 
young  men,  if  I  ever  get  away,  and  get  a  chance  at  any  of 
you,  I  will  hang  you  on  the  highest  tree  I  can  find."  They 
gave  up  their  arms,  and  Parker,  with  drawn  pistol,  stood 
guard  over  them  until  the  regiment  should  come  up,  while 
Savacool  and  Warren  took  after  the  sergeant.  They  chased 


THE  FIFTEEN  DAYS'  SCOUT.  297 

him  a  mile  or  more,  when  Warren  saw  soldiers  in  various 
directions  and  told  Savacool  to  hold  up.  But  the  latter  saw 
only  that  sergeant  and  he  could  not  rest  till  he  had  him. 
Warren  had  to  ride  up  along  side  and  catch  hold  of  Sava- 
cool's  bridle  and  stop  him,  for  fear  those  scattered  soldiers 
would  close  in  upon  them.  On  the  return  some  Confeder 
ates  followed.  Captain  Jones  with  Companies  A  and  C  had 
scouted  east  of  the  pike.  A  trap  was  set  for  the  enemy  and 
fourteen  more  belonging  to  O'Farrell  were  taken.  After  a 
busy  day  and  about  thirty  miles,  returned  to  Mrs.  Kind- 
rick's  farm  near  Strasburg. 

The  1 4th,  there  were  some  scouts,  but  the  command 
rested  near  Strasburg.  The  1 5th  was  cold.  Another  party 
went  out  among  the  mountains  to  the  west,  coming  into  the 
pike  two  miles  beyond  Woodstock,  bringing  a  number  of 
horses  and  two  prisoners,  leaving  some  wounded  enemies 
behind.  Reached  camp  at  Mrs.  Kindrick's  after  dark  and 
a  ride  of  over  thirty  miles.  The  i6th,  there  was  no  im 
portant  movement.  Parties  were  on  the  lookout. 

The  morning  of  the  i/th  it  was  raining  hard  and  freez 
ing.  The  main  force  moved  up  the  pike.  The  First  cav 
alry  went  up  the  Back  road,  halting  near  Columbia  Furnace 
among  the  foot  hills  west  of  Woodstock.  It  was  raining 
still  and  the  trees  were  loaded  with  ice.  The  companies  be 
came  scattered,  each  looking  for  shelter  where  it  could  find 
it.  Bailey  sent  Savacool  to  a  house  to  ask  the  owner  to  al 
low  the  use  of  his  barn  for  the  horses,  and  his  kitchen  and 
dining  room  for  the  men.  Savacool  tied  his  horse  at  the 
gate  and  went  in.  A  minute  afterward  some  one  came  out, 
mounted  the  horse,  and  rode  toward  the  barn.  It  was  sup 
posed  to  be  Savacool.  But  he  soon  came  from  the  house 
and  his  horse  was  gone.  With  the  farmer's  lantern  War 
ren  led  in  a  search,  following  the  tracks  which  led  past  the 
barn,  down  through  the  field,  out  into  the  road  and  away. 


298  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

There  had  been  a  rebel  in  the  house,  and  in  the  dusk  he  had 
tried  the  only  thing  that  would  have  prevented  his  capture, 
and  he  succeeded. 

Boyd  was  on  the  pike  and  Bailey  wished  to  send  him 
word  as  to  where  he  was.  He  selected  the  fearless,  trusty 
Savacool  to  take  the  word.  Borrowing-  a  horse  of  one  of 
the  other  men,  he  started.  He  had  to  feel  his  way,  as  the 
night  was  very  dark.  He  did  not  know  where  Boyd  was. 
As  he  was  riding  along,  ruminating  on  his  chances,  a  pine 
limb,  overloaded  with  ice,  snapped  in  two  with  a  report  that 
in  the  stillness  sounded  like  two  or  three  guns.  He  thought 
he  had  run  into  a  picket  post  of  the  enemy.  He  stopped 
and  listened,  and  it  was  a  minute  or  more  before  he  realized 
what  had  happened.  He  admitted  that  for  an  instant  he 
was  a  little  scared.  He  found  Boyd  near  Woodstock,  and 
by  morning  was  back  with  the  company. 

He  then  had  to  find  a  horse.  There  was  none  to  be 
found  but  a  large  clumsy  mare  that  belonged  to  the  farmer. 
He  had  to  take  her  or  walk. 

The  morning  of  the  i8th,  the  companies  got  together 
and  started  on  up  the  Back  road.  Savacool,  Andrew  White 
and  Warren  were  the  extreme  advance.  They  were  on  the 
lookout  for  another  horse.  On  a  ridge  road  parallel  with 
that  on  which  they  were  riding  were  two  horsemen  which, 
they  were  sure,  were  Confederates.  Just  here  was  a  cross 
road,  and  Savacool  and  White  started  for  the  two  men. 
The  rebels  turned  to  meet  them,  supposing  they  were  friends. 
They  met  in  a  small  piece  of  woods  in  a  hollow.  The  rebels, 
coming  near,  suspected  something  was  wrong  and  turned  to 
go  back.  The  rest  of  the  advance  heard  two  pistol  shots, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  Savacool  and  White  appeared  with  one 
prisoner,  and  Savacool  was  mounted  on  a  spirited  white 
horse.  When  fired  upon,  the  one  who  had  been  riding  the 


THE  FIFTEEN  DAYS'  SCOUT.  299 

white  horse  rolled  off  and  darted  into  the  woods.  The 
woods  were  so  thick  that  he  escaped. 

Warren  said :  "You  never  saw  a  happier  boy  than  Ed 
was  when  he  rode  up  on  his  white  horse.  He  was  a  regu 
lar  peacock,  his  head  and  tail  up  in  the  air,  and  looked  like 
a  trained  race  horse." 

A  few  more  wandering  Confederates  were  taken  that 
day.  The  companies  continued  up  the  Back  road,  turning 
back  to  the  pike  at  Mount  Jackson,  and  then  going  on  to 
New  Market,  a  march  of  thirty-five  miles. 

Captain  Stearns  and  Lieut.  Weiss  with  Companies  H 
and  E  were  left  to  guard  the  bridge  at  Mount  Jackson. 

The  i  Qth,  the  companies  again  started  out  on  the  Back 
road,  the  rest  of  the  force  following  the  pike.  It  was  a 
rough,  poor  country.  The  late  storm  had  been  a  severe  one, 
and  many  trees  had  been  broken  down  by  the  ice  formed 
by  the  freezing  rain.  Again  the  intrepid  advance,  Sava- 
cool,  White,  Warren,  the  Goublemans  and  a  few  others  had 
their  usual  satisfaction  in  running  down  Confederates  who 
were  wandering  loose  about  the  country.  Halted  at  night, 
after  a  march  of  twenty  miles,  on  Kratzen's  farm,  about 
five  miles  from  Harrisonburg.  The  weather  was  intensely 
cold.  The  men  found  shelter  in  barns  where  there  was 
plenty  of  hay. 

The  people,  of  course,  were  Southern  in  their  sym 
pathies.  Many  of  them  did  not  really  know  what  the  war 
was  about.  Some  of  the  women  were  bitter  in  speech.  Nearly 
all  of  them  had  the  habit  of  "dipping  snuff".  But  they 
could  talk.  There  were  men  who  would  find  it  more  agree 
able  to  get  inside  of  a  warm  house,  as  a  shelter  from  the 
cold,  than  to  stay  in  a  barn,  though  most  of  them  were  thank 
ful  enough  for  that.  Valentine  and  McKinley  found  such 
a  comfortable  house.  Naturally  they  got  into  an  argument 
with  the  women.  These  fellows  were  good  in  an  argument. 


300  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  last  resort  of  the  out-argued  women  was:  "You  are 
no  gentlemen."  To  which  the  gallant  McKinley  responded : 
"Madam,  I  have  no  ambition  to  be  a  gentleman.  My  high 
est  aspiration  is  to  be  a  man!" 

Companies  H  and  E  under  Captain  Stearns  and  Lieu 
tenant  Weiss  had  been  left  at  the  bridge  near  Mount  Jack 
son.  Gilmore's  men  had  followed  the  column,  and  had  cir 
cled  all  day  around  these  two  companies.  When  night  came 
the  men  were  on  the  lookout.  It  was  very  cold  and  they 
had  built  fires  along  the  road.  After  midnight  those  who 
had  been  relieved  lay  down  to  rest,  when  they  were  sud 
denly  fired  on  by  about  eighty  men.  The  night  was  very 
dark.  The  bright  fires  were  a  hindrance  rather  than  a  help 
to  the  assailants.  Their  shots  fell  short.  One  bullet  went 
through  the  heel  of  Fiala's  right  boot.  He  was  asleep.  The 
thick  leather  prevented  the  bullet  from  doing  much  damage, 
and  only  a  little  flesh  was  taken  off.  "They  mixed  right 
among  us  and  yelled  like  Indians  for  us  to  surrender.  But 
we  gave  them  a  good  reception  and  soon  drove  them  off." 

Stearns  and  his  men  fought  determinedly.  An  old 
house  close  by,  in  case  of  extremity  would  have  afforded  a 
defence.  The  enemy  tried  to  burn  this,  but  did  not  succeed. 
The  most  of  the  fighting  was  in  the  open  air  and  at  close 
quarters,  some  of  it  hand  to  hand.  Gilmore  and  his  men 
finally  withdrew.  It  was  supposed  that  some  of  his  men 
were  killed  or  wounded.  None  were  to  be  seen  in  the  morn 
ing.  They  succeeded  in  taking  with  them  Gleich,  Ruhkolph, 
Foerster  and  Schultz  of  Company  E,  and  three  or  four  of 
Company  H,  and  several  horses.  Stearns  and  his  men  held 
the  position  and  "kept  the  bridge" — the  important  thing. 

Four  of  the  men  of  Company  E  were  excellent  musi 
cians,  and  had  formed  a  quartette.  The  evening  before  they 
had  been  invited  to  the  house  where  some  of  the  officers  were 
staying,  to  sing  and  play  for  the  entertainment  of  the  family 


THE  FIFTEEN  DAYS'  SCOUT.  301 

and  the  officers.  This  affair  broke  up  the  quartette.  Ruh- 
kolph,  Foerster  and  Gleich  died  in  Andersonville. 

The  2Oth,  the  forces  marched  into  Harrisonburg.  This 
expedition  had  been  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  the  atten 
tion  of  the  Confederate  authorities  while  Averell  had  been 
marching  from  west  of  the  mountains  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  the  bridges  on  the  Virginia  and  East  Tennessee 
railroad.  It  was  now  learned  by  a  captured  dispatch  that  he 
had  accomplished  his  purpose  and  that  he  was  at  Salem, 
having  "marched,  climbed,  slid  and  swam"  nearly  three 
hundred  miles. 

But  now  Early  was  coming  toward  us,  and  Rosser  was 
on  his  way  down  the  Luray  valley  to  cut  us  off  at  Strasburg. 

The  afternoon  of  the  2Oth,  the  command  marched  out 
of  Harrisonburg,  the  First  New  York  again  taking  the  Back 
road,  reaching  New  Market,  twenty  miles,  before  midnight. 

On  the  march  the  next  morning  Savacool,  White,  the 
Goublemans  and  Warren  were  again  in  the  advance.  These 
daring  fellows  were  never  satisfied  to  be  anywhere  else. 
Warren  related : 

"We  caught  sight  of  three  or  four  rebels  and  were  after  them  with 
a  rush,  when  a  turn  in  the  road  just  before  we  got  into  Mount  Jack 
son,  showed  us  a  company  of  about  fifty  drawn  up  in  line  awaiting  us. 
We  immediately  checked  our  horses — all  but  Ed.  His  white  horse 
would  not  stop,  but  took  him  sailing  past  the  rebels  down  the  pike. 
They  were  a  little  disconcerted  at  first,  but  finally  took  after  him. 
He  dropped  his  pistol  and  took  both  hands  to  try  to  stop  the  horse,  but 
he  would  not  stop.  He  finally  headed  him  toward  a  fence.  He 
jumped  the  fence  and  took  through  the  fields  toward  a  barn.  Then  the 
rebels  stopped  and  opened  the  barnyard  gate  and  were  coming  up  after 
him,  when  he  started  the  horse  across  the  field  in  our  direction,  hop 
ing  that  the  regiment  would  come  up  in  time  to  save  him.  He  made 
for  a  very  high  fence.  The  horse  for  a  wonder  refused  to  jump  this 
time.  He  stopped  so  suddenly  that  Ed  went  over  his  head  on  the 
other  side  of  the  fence.  He  was  not  hurt  at  all,  but,  fortunately  for 
him,  the  regiment  came  dashing  up  at  this  time  and  the  rebels  had  to 
run  for  it  themselves.  Ed  had  broken  one  stirrup  in  the  run,  lost  his 


302  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

hat  and  his  revolver.  But  in  less  than  an  hour  afterward  he  captured 
a  rebel  further  down  the  pike,  took  his  hat,  which  was  not  a  very  good 
one,  and  replaced  his  revolver.  He  gave  that  horse  away  after  getting 
back  to  camp,  as  he  could  not  manage  him  at  all.  The  same  horse  ran 
away  with  Sergeant  Diamond  at  Luray,  the  day  that  we  captured  the 
two  men  that  were  hanged  for  spies.  He  carried  him  right  past  the 
rebels,  and  one  of  them  shot  him  in  the  arm. 

In  1864,  when  General  Sheridan  had  come  into  the  valley,  the 
Confederates  were  supposed  to  be  in  Charlestown.  We  made  a  charge 
into  the  town  and  found  them  in  force,  and  had  to  check  up,  but  this 
same  horse  with  Sergeant  Diamond  on  his  back  determined  that  he 
would  go  ahead.  The  sergeant  saw  no  way  of  stopping  him,  and 
steered  him  for  that  old  stone  blacksmith  shop  in  the  edge  of  town,  and 
ran  his  head  against  the  wall  before  he  would  stop.  That  was  the  only 
thing  that  saved  Diamond.  After  that  he.  too,  gave  him  up." 

The  2  ist,  the  advance  caught  several  of  the  enemy.  At 
Woodstock  they  found  Captain  Logan,  of  Stuart's  staff, 
wounded.  Stopped  for  the  night  in  "Bushwhackers'  Hol 
low,"  near  Woodstock. 

The  22nd,  reached  Mrs.  Kindrick's  farm,  near  Stras- 
burg.  Rosser  was  reported  to  be  at  Front  Royal,  but  after 
the  recent  rains  the  Shenandoah  was  too  high  to  ford. 

It  snowed  during  the  night,  and  the  next  morning  was 
very  cold.  The  command  started  early,  passed  through 
Winchester  and  Berryville,  and  at  9  that  night  was  in  the 
camp  at  Charlestown,  forty  miles. 

The  most  direct  way  to  Harrisonburg  was  eighty-seven 
miles.  The  side  marches  and  out  of  the  way  scouts  by  the 
different  companies  of  the  regiment  would  add  many  miles 
to  twice  the  direct  distance  on  this  fifteen  days'  expedition. 

The  loss  in  these  fifteen  days  was  two  men  wounded  and 
six  captured. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 
CHARLESTOWN— VARIOUS  SCOUTS. 

THE  28th,  another  scout  went  out  for  three  days,  but 
no  enemy  was  seen. 

A  company  of  Confederate  cavalry  had  been  raised  in 
and  around  Charlestown,  known  as  Baylor's  Company,  and 
some  of  the  members  frequently  came  home  to  see  their 
people.  Savacool,  on  a  detail  under  Vermilya,  had  word 
of  this  and  proposed  to  see  if  some  of  them  could  not  be 
caught,  and  hence  a  special  trip,  the  date  of  which  is  not 
remembered.  Savacool  and  his  few  comrades  caught  sight 
of  two  or  three  horsemen,  and  there  began  a  lively  chase  to 
see  who  would  get  them.  They  caught  only  one  of  them, 
however,  young  Wilson,  a  likely  fellow.  This  was  Will 
iam  L.  Wilson,  afterward  member  of  congress,  who  won  a 
national  reputation  as  the  author  of  the  "Wilson  Tariff 
Bill,"  and  later  a  member  of  President  Cleveland's  second 
cabinet. 

The  3  ist,  the  regiment  was  mustered  for  pay  for  the 
months  of  November  and  December. 

The  subject  of  re-enlisting  for  another  term  of  "three 
years  or  during  the  war"  was  being  considered.  The  gov 
ernment  was  offering  a  large  bounty  and  a  furlough  of  thirty 
days  with  free  transportation  home  and  back,  to  all  who 
would  re-enlist.  The  offer  was  very  generally  accepted. 
In  some  of  the  companies  whose  officers  had  proved  effi- 

303 


304  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

cient,  almost  every  man  determined  to  remain  in  the  service 
until  they  could  see  the  end  of  the  war.  In  others  there  was 
dissatisfaction.  One  of  the  captains  had  been  under  arrest 
in  Harper's  Ferry  for  weeks.  He  was  now  informed  that 
there  was  charged  against  him  the  sum  of  $2,500  for 
ordnance  and  other  property  for  which  he  had  not  accounted, 
and  his  pay  would  be  withheld  until  he  should  make  a  sat 
isfactory  return.  He  seemed  incapable  of  doing  work  of 
this  kind.  It  was  the  work  of  weeks  for  the  recently  ap 
pointed  orderly  sergeant  to  make  out  these  reports.  There 
were  many  things  besides  scouting  and  making  dashing 
charges  that  had  to  be  attended  to  by  an  efficient  cavalry 
officer. 

The  first  of  January,  1864,  was  bright  and  mild.  It 
was  reported  that  the  enemy  was  in  force  near  Bunker  Hill. 
"Saddle  up!"  Wagons  were  ordered  back  to  Harper's 
Ferry  for  safety.  All  available  men  of  the  regiment  and  a 
battery  of  artillery  went  out  through  Smithfield,  and  with 
in  eight  miles  of  Winchester.  The  weather  had  suddenly 
changed,  and  it  became  intensely  cold.  It  was  too  cold  to 
fight.  It  was  decided  to  let  the  rebels  go  this  time.  Re 
turned  to  Bunker  Hill,  and  stopped  to  make  coffee.  Just  as 
it  began  to  be  dark,  started  for  home.  The  cold  became 
intense,  and  the  wind  blew  so  hard  that  the  bugler  could 
not  sound  the  call  to  mount.  The  men  had  to  walk  and  run 
to  keep  from  freezing.  As  it  was,  many  had  their  ears, 
faces  and  feet  frozen  before  reaching  camp  at  midnight. 

The  night  of  the  2nd,  another  scout  went  out,  and  re 
turning  reported  Imboden  with  a  brigade  in  Winchester. 
The  3rd,  a  large  force  of  cavalry  with  some  artillery  reached 
Winchester  early  in  the  morning.  Imboden  had  left  an 
hour  before.  A  number  of  his  men  who  had  lingered  were 
coming  from  the  houses,  mounting  their  horses  and  hasten- 


CHARLESTOWN — VARIOUS  SCOUTS.  305 

ing  away.  Several  of  these  were  caught,  and  there  was 
some  sharp  exchanges  with  the  rear  guard. 

Most  of  the  men  had  signed  the  re-enlistment  rolls,  and 
on  the  5th  they  were  mustered  in  by  Captain  James  H. 
Stevenson  of  Co.  C,  who  had  been  appointed  mustering 
officer. 

Captain  Stevenson  on  this  occasion  made  a  general 
statement  of  what  had  been  done  by  the  regiment.  His 
estimate  was  more  than  2,000  prisoners,  1,000  horses,  400 
wagons,  4  cannon,  1,000  muskets,  1,000  revolvers,  and  700 
sabres  captured. 

January  6,  Quinn  set  out.  At  night  he  was  near 
Newtown.  Warren  and  John  Hogan,  dressed  in  gray,  were 
a  mile  ahead.  They  stopped  at  a  house  to  ask  for  some 
thing  to  eat,  saying  that  they  were  Captain  Blackford's  men. 
The  frightened  woman  who  answered  their  knock  said  that 
the  captain  and  some  of  his  men  were  getting  their  supper 
at  Aunt  Mary's.  Aunt  Mary  kept  a  boarding  house.  Per 
haps  they  could  get  their  supper  there,  too.  They  rode 
past  Aunt  Mary's  slowly,  and  then  turned  back  to  meet  the 
regiment.  Meeting  the  column  at  the  toll  gate,  Warren 
reported  to  Savacool  who  was  commanding  his  company, 
suggesting  that  they  take  three  or  four  and  try  to  capture 
these  men.  But  Savacool  replied,  "Don't  say  anything  to 
anyone.  Come  on  and  we  will  try  it  alone."  The  two 
started  ahead  at  a  fast  trot.  In  front  of  the  house  they 
threw  the  reins  over  the  pickets  of  the  fence,  and  entered 
the  house  without  knocking,  pistols  in  hand.  No  men  were 
in  the  room.  In  reply  to  a  question,  the  landlady  said  that 
Captain  Blackford  was  not  there.  They  went  through  the 
back  door  into  the  garden.  No  one  was  visible.  It  was 
getting  dark,  but  tracks  could  be  seen  in  the  fresh  snow. 
There  were  many  bushes  in  the  garden.  They  looked  among 
these,  and  were  about  to  give  up  the  search  when  suddenly 


306  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

four  men  sprang  out  of  the  bushes  and  ran.  The  two  men 
fired.  Two  of  the  four  jumped  over  the  fence  and  es 
caped;  a  third  was  on  the  fence.  He  cried  out,  "Don't  fire; 
I'm  shot.  I'll  surrender."  Thinking  that  he  was  going  to 
do  as  he  said,  the  two  men  lowered  their  weapons,  when  he 
slipped  off  the  fence  and  ran.  Savacool  immediately 
jumped  over  the  fence  and  followed  him.  Warren  took  the 
arms  from  the  fourth  man  and  hurried  him  back  to  the 
street,  opened  the  gate  and  pushed  him  through,  calling  to 
men  in  the  regiment,  which  had  just  come  up,  to  take  care 
of  him.  Warren  then  ran  back  through  the  garden, 
jumped  the  fence  and  hurried  after  Savacool,  who  was  hav 
ing  a  running  fight  with  the  man  he  was  pursuing,  the  two 
firing  at  each  other  as  rapidly  as  they  could.  Warren  was 
a  hundred  yards  from  them  when  they  both  stopped,  facing 
each  other.  Both  fired  at  the  same  instant,  the  two  shots 
seeming  as  one  report.  Both  fell.  Warren  hastened  to  his 
comrade,  who  had  been  shot  in  the  thigh  and  could  not  get 
tip.  Blackford  called  for  help.  Savacool  said,  "Go  and 
-see  what  he  wants.  I  am  not  suffering.  I  am  pretty  sure 
that  he  is  wounded  this  time."  Warren  went,  watching  him 
closely  lest  he  should  try  his  trick  again.  "Where  are  you 
hit?"  "Here  in  my  breast.  I  am  badly  wounded  this 
time.  I  am  not  playing  off."  "Where  is  your  pistol?" 
"Here  it  is  lying  on  the  ground."  Warren  unbuckled  the 
captain's  belt  and  pulled  it  out  from  under  him,  when  he 
noticed  another  holster,  and  it  was  empty.  This  led  him 
to  ask,  "Where  is  your  other  pistol?"  "It  is  under  me.  I 
dropped  it  and  fell  on  it."  He  had  fired  six  loads  out  of 
one  and  had  just  drawn  the  other  when  he  was  wounded. 
He  was  given  the  drink  of  water  that  he  asked  for,  and  ex 
pired  almost  immediately. 

Warren  went  back  to  Savacool  and  tried  to  carry  him 
to  the  house.     They  heard  voices  in  the  direction  toward 


CHARLESTOWN — VARIOUS  SCOUTS.  307 

which  the  first  two  had  escaped.  If  more  of  Blackford's 
men  were  coming  it  would  go  hard  with  these  two  dressed  in 
Confederate  gray.  But  they  recognized  the  voice  of  Ser 
geant  Smith  of  Co.  K  saying  to  those  with  him,  "Don't 
shoot  until  we  find  out  who  they  are."  Warren  called  to 
him  to  come  and  help.  Savacool  was  taken  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  Hull,  a  Union  man. 

A  few  months  before  Blackford  and  some  of  his  men 
had  been  captured  by  Prendergast.  He  had  been  taken  to 
Fort  McHenry,  but  had  escaped.  He  was  now  taken  into 
the  room  where  he  had  eaten  his  supper.  The  women  and 
children  lamented  loudly  saying  "he  was  worth  the  whole 
Yankee  army,"  and  berating  those  who  had  killed  him.  As 
one  said,  "He  would  have  been  a  worse  plague  to  us  than 
Mosby." 

The  loth,  another  party  went  out  for  an  all  night  ride 
to  look  for  an  enemy,  but  found  none. 

The  1 3th,  the  Twenty-first  and  Twenty-second  Penn 
sylvania  regiments  went  home  on  their  furlough,  having 
re-enlisted.  The  former  was  Boyd's  regiment  that  had 
been  raised  for  six  months'  service.  On  the  reorganiza 
tion  of  this  regiment  for  three  years  Oliver  B.  Knowles  was 
made  a  major.  By  the  time  the  war  closed  he  had  become 
lieutenant  colonel,  and  brevetted  colonel  and  brigadier  gen 
eral.  The  younger  W.  H.  Boyd  became  a  captain,  and  in 
the  final  campaign  commanded  the  escort  of  General  Wright 
of  the  Sixth  corps. 

The  time  for  re-enlisting  had  been  extended  and  some 
who  had  hesitated  at  first  were  signing  the  rolls.  As  a  con- 
seqence  of  some  of  the  inducements  offered  by  some  of  the 
officers,  there  was  an  occasional  disorder  in  the  camp,  but 
"the  work  went  bravely  on." 

The  1 6th,  two  parties  went  out,  returning  the  next  day 


308  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

with  a  Confederate  lieutenant,  and  the  report  that  three  hun 
dred  of  Imboden's  men  were  on  Fisher's  Hill. 

The  1 7th,  the  Twenty-first  New  York  cavalry  arrived 
to  take  the  place  of  the  regiments  that  were  going  home  on 
furlough. 

The  1 8th,  a  disorderly  man  of  this  regiment  had  been 
tied  to  a  tree  by  his  officers.  Beer  had  been  flowing  too 
freely.  A  few  of  the  First  had  been  asked  by  his  comrades 
to  cut  the  tied  man  loose.  They  indiscreetly  did  so.  He 
was  tied  up  again,  and  a  guard  placed  over  him.  This 
guard  fired  upon  a  few  who  tried  again  to  cut  him  loose. 
The  fire  was  returned.  The  new  regiment  ' 'turned  out" 
and  formed  a  line.  It  was  nine  men  against  a  regiment. 
A  force  of  infantry  was  sent  for.  Several  men  and  some 
horses  had  been  wounded,  when  the  disturbers  were  ar 
rested  and  quiet  was  restored.  But  for  the  coolness  and 
good  judgment  of  some  of  the  officers  of  the  First,  this 
might  have  proved  a  more  serious  affair  than  some  of  our 
affairs  with  the  Confederates. 

Outriders  from  the  camp  now  and  then  would  catch 
sight  of  small  parties  of  the  enemy  riding  carelessly  around 
the  country.  These  careless  outriders  on  both  sides  were 
taking  risks. 

The  22nd,  orders  were  given  for  a  scout  to  start  early 
the  next  morning.  It  was  a  large  force  and  an  early  start. 
Quinn  was  in  command,  and  Jones  and  Bailey  went  along. 
A  part  of  the  force  was  from  the  Twenty-first.  Went  to 
Woodstock,  fifty  miles,  and  found  a  small  body  of  the  en 
emy,  taking  twelve  of  them.  Rosser  was  reported  to  be 
at  New  Market.  One  of  the  prisoners  was  recognized  as 
one  who  had  been  taken  before,  but  had  escaped  by  snatch 
ing  his  captor's  pistol  out  of  his  hand  and  dismounting  him. 

On  the  return  Bailey  had  the  rear  guard.  A  force  of 
cavalry  followed,  frequently  firing  upon  him,  but  falling 


CHARLESTOWN — VARIOUS  SCOUTS.  309 

back  whenever  he  turned  to  fight  them.  At  Bailey's  sug 
gestion,  Captain  Jones  with  Co.  A  turned  aside  from  the 
column  and  waited  out  of  sight  until  the  rear  guard  and  the 
pursuing  Confederates  had  passed,  when  he  turned  into  the 
pike  and  attacked  the  pursuers  in  the  rear  while  Bailey  faced  ' 
about  and  fought  them  in  front.  They  surrendered;  the 
lieutenant  in  command  remarking :  "O'Farrell  might  have 
known  better  than  to  pirouette  around  after  the  First  New 
York  cavalry.  You  are  the  worst  men  to  fool  with  in  this 
Valley." 

The  26th,  a  small  party  went  out  to  Col.  Morgan's  and 
almost  succeeded  in  taking  several  Confederate  officers  vis 
iting  there  on  some  special  occasion.  The  same  day  a  party 
of  sixteen  picked  men  of  the  Twenty-first  ventured  out. 
They  had  not  yet  the  necessary  acquaintance  with  the  ways 
of  the  country,  and  all  but  four  went  on  with  their  captors. 

The  28th,  a  scout  went  to  Kernstown,  seeing  some  en 
emies,  but  not  within  reach. 

The  29th,  was  another  mustering  of  re-enlisting  men. 

The  3  ist,  it  was  learned  that  Rosser  was  riding  about 
among  the  mountains  west  of  the  Valley,  gathering  up  cattle 
and  whatever  else  could  be  found  that  would  be  of  use  to 
him.  Nearly  all  the  First  and  Twenty-first  were  ordered 
out  with  rations  for  five  days.  Quinn  was  in  command. 
That  night  they  stopped  at  Winchester,  the  next  at  Capon 
Bridge,  the  third  at  Romney.  Rosser  was  getting  away 
with  his  stolen  cattle  and  horses  and  many  wagons  loaded 
with  plunder.  Colonel  Marshall  with  some  cavalry  was 
guarding  his  flank  and  rear.  In  a  skirmish  with  this  guard 
at  Mechanicsburg  Gap,  the  First  had  a  man  and  several 
horses  wounded,  the  enemy  losing  one  killed,  several 
wounded,  and  five  captured.  Quinn  led  his  force  back  to 
Romney.  Here  he  learned  that  Colonel  Mulligan  had  gone 
from  Cumberland  with  about  four  thousand  cavalry  and  in- 


310  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

fantry,  and  two  batteries.  He  was  expected  to  be  at  Moor- 
field  the  next  day.  Quinn,  after  an  all  night  march,  joined 
Mulligan  the  next  morning.  He  took  the  advance  and 
drove  Marshall's  force  several  miles.  He  thought  with  an 
additional  force  he  could  capture  the  entire  train.  He  con 
tinued  his  pursuit  and  skirmishing,  sending  back  word  ask 
ing  for  reinforcements.  But  for  some  reason  the  additional 
force  was  not  sent.  The  long  train  was  winding  its  way 
in  plain  sight  up  the  mountain  road.  There  were  not  a  few 
imprecations  as  the  men  saw  the  train  moving  away  from 
them,  feeling  sure  that  with  proper  support  they  could  cap 
ture  it. 

On  a  little  side  scout  Savacool,  dressed  in  gray,  was 
on  the  advance.  He  came  upon  a  Confederate  who  suspect 
ing  that  all  was  not  right,  turned  and  fled,  with  Savacool  in 
hot  pursuit  and  firing.  A  stream,  knee  deep  to  the  horses,  ran 
across  the  road.  This  checked  the  Confederate's  horse,  and, 
coming  out  of  the  water  on  the  other  side  so  suddenly,  he 
stumbled  and  fell  across  his  rider  in  such  a  way  that  the 
latter  could  not  rise.  Savacool's  horse  coming  out  of  the 
stream  fell  in  the  same  manner,  and  he  was  lying  helpless 
with  his  leg  under  the  horse.  But  he  had  his  pistol  in  his 
hand  and  pointed  it  at  the  other  who  cried :  "I'll  surrender; 
don't  shoot."  Those  behind  had  heard  the  firing,  and  came 
dashing  up,  and  helped  both  out  of  their  predicament. 

Quinn  reached  Green  Spring  Feb.  3,  and  Charlestown 
the  7th.  It  had  been  a  tedious  midwinter  march  of  nearly 
two  hundred  miles,  especially  severe  on  the  horses,  and  with 
out  any  results  to  compensate. 

In  the  meantime  the  camp  at  Charlestown  was  thought 
to  be  exposed  to  an  attack,  the  infantry  having  been  with 
drawn  from  the  town  and  so  large  a  part  of  the  cavalry  being 
away.  All  stores,  tents,  unarmed  men  and  lame  horses 
were  moved  to  Halltown.  The  serviceable  men  and  horses 


CHARLESTOWN — VARIOUS  SCOUTS.  311 

were  to  remain  with  what  shelter  they  could  find  and  be 
ready  for  an  attack. 

The  4th,  a  party  of  fifteen  encountered  twice  their 
number  at  Berryville.  One  of  the  Twenty-first  was  killed, 
several  wounded  and  captured.  Captain  Bailey  set  out*  at 
once,  and  at  White  Post  found  several  companies — too  many 
for  his  small  party.  The  5th,  Captain  Prendergast  routed 
a  small  force  at  Smithfield.  The  7th,  the  entire  regiment 
went  into  a  new  camp  at  Halltown. 

Muster-out  and  muster-in  rolls  had  been  made  out,  and 
all  were  waiting  for  the  paymaster. 

There  was  dissatisfaction  with  one  of  the  captains  who 
had  been  unfortunate  in  every  affair  in  which  he  had  un 
dertaken  to  lead.  There  was  a  general  protest  against  re- 
enlisting  under  him.  But  it  was  the  best  job  he  had  ever 
had,  and  he  proposed  to  keep  it. 

The  Thirty-third  New  York  infantry  had  re-enlisted  as 
cavalry.  It  was  properly  the  Seventeenth  cavalry,  but  as  it 
was  the  first  to  re-enlist,  it  assumed  the  name  of  the  First 
New  York  Veteran  Cavalry.  The  Thirty-third  had  done 
good  service  on  the  Peninsula  and  in  all  the  campaigns 
since.  But  the  names  might  lead  to  some  confusion. 

At  4  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  I2th  there  was  a  sud 
den  awakening.  "Officers'  call,"  followed  immediately  by 
"saddle  up."  A  railroad  train  had  been  captured  at  Duf- 
fields.  A  Confederate  lieutenant  and  four  men  came  in 
with  a  flag  of  truce  bringing  the  bodies  of  some  Federal 
soldiers  who  had  been  killed. 

There  was  a  friendly  feeling  among  the  regiments. 
The  evening  of  the  I2th,  the  First  was  the  recipient  of  a 
serenade  by  the  band  of  the  Twenty-first. 

The  1 3th,  Major  Keatly  paid  for  the  months  of  Novem 
ber  and  December,  a  month's  pay  in  advance,  and  an  install 
ment  of  the  bounty  offered  for  re-enlistment. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
ON  VETERAN  FURLOUGH. 

THE  men  who  had  not  re-enlisted  were  to  remain  at 
Halltown.  These  were  to  be  under  the  command  of 
Liuet.  Colonel  Adams. 

February  14,  1864,  the  regiment  marched  to  Frederick, 
Md.  The  horses  were  placed  in  stables  to  be  cared  for  by 
a  detail  of  the  men  who  had  not  re-enlisted.  At  9  p.m.  a 
train  of  cattle  cars  loaded  with  the  veterans  left  for  Balti 
more,  arriving  there  at  4  a.m.  The  men,  released  from  dis 
cipline  and  long  service,  were  jubilant.  Some  of  them,  dis 
trusting  their  ability  to  keep  safely  the  generous  amount  of 
money  they  had  received,  intrusted  it  to  their  officers.  An 
orderly  sergeant  carried  several  thousand  dollars  for  his 
men  until  they  should  reach  New  York.  At  night  reached 
Philadelphia.  Entertained  at  the  Volunteer  Refreshment 
Rooms.  Reached  New  York  via  C.  &  A.  R.  R.  and  steamer 
at  night.  The  regiment  was  dismissed  subject  to  call  in  the 
papers. 

The  recruiting  office,  600  Broadway,  was  headquarters 
for  making  out  furloughs  and  reports.  Called  together  the 
afternoon  of  the  i8th.  Formed  line  in  front  of  the  City 
Hall.  The  day  was  bright  and  pleasant,  though  cool.  The 
regiment  was  the  guest  ol  the  city.  A  banquet  had  been 
provided  by  the  Common  Council  in  the  Jefferson  Market 
drill  rooms.  To  that  place  the  regiment  was  escorted  by 

312 


ON  VETERAN  FURLOUGH.  313 

the  Seventh  Regiment  New  York  National  Guards  under 
Colonel  Lefferts.  The  streets  were  brilliant  and  crowded. 
The  reception  was  demonstrative  and  enthusiastic.  Mayor 
Gunther  welcomed  the  regiment.  The  procession  passed  up 
Broadway  to  Eighth  street,  on  Eighth  to  Sixth  avenue,  and 
thence  to  the  drill  rooms.  Alderman  Hardy,  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  National  Affairs,  made  an  appropriate 
speech  of  welcome  in  which  he  alluded  in  complimentary 
terms  to  the  services  of  the  regiment,  and  proposed  the 
"Health  of  the  First  New  York  Cavalry."  Colonel  Mc- 
Reynolds  responded,  saying,  that  of  those  who  went  out  with 
him  only  a  third  were  now  returning,  and  expressed  his 
thanks  for  the  welcome  and  the  hospitality  extended  by  the 
authorities  of  the  city.  Major  Quinn  replied  to  a  toast 
offered  to  "The  Officers  of  the  Regiment."  Alderman  Hardy 
read  a  letter  from  General  Sullivan,  when  General  McClellan 
was  announced.  He  was  greeted  with  cheer  after  cheer. 
Crowds  surged  around  him  in  their  desire  to  shake  hands 
with  him.  After  tumults  of  applause  order  was  restored, 
and  the  general  addressed  the  men : 

"My  friends  and  comrades :  I  came  here,  not  to  make  a  speech  to 
you,  but  to  welcome  you  home,  and  to  express  the  pride  I  have  always 
felt  in  your  career,  not  only  when  you  were  with  me,  but  since  I  left 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  You  have  been  righting  battles  under  others 
than  your  late  commander.  I  can  tell  you  now,  conscientiously  and 
truly,  I  am  proud  of  you  in  every  respect.  You  have  not  one  stain 
on  your  career,  not  a  line  of  it  of  which  you,  your  state,  and  your 
country  may  not  be  proud.  I  congratulate  you  on  the  resolution  that 
so  many  of  you  have  formed  to  re-enter  the  service.  I  hope  and  I 
know  that  your  future  career  will  be  as  glorious  as  your  past.  I  have 
one  other  hope,  and  that  is,  that  we  may  yet  serve  together  sometime 
again." 

There  was  the  greatest  enthusiasm  over  the  general's 
presence.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  he  was  able  to  get 
away. 

Mr.  Philander  Reed,  a  prominent  citizen  who  had  done, 


314  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

and  was  yet  to  do,  many  things  in  the  interest  of  the  regi 
ment,  was  called  upon,  and  responded  happily,  concluding 
by  saying  that  Mrs.  McClellan  had  remarked  that  she  was 
sorry  that  she  could  not  be  present  to  take  every  man  of  the 
regiment  by  the  hand.  Finally  the  enthusiasm  subsided  and 
the  men  departed  to  their  various  homes. 

Company  C  went  to  Philadelphia  where  an  ovation 
awaited  them.  On  their  re-enlistment  the  men  of  this  com 
pany  had  been  credited  to  the  quota  of  the  Twentieth  ward 
of  that  city.  Rev.  Mr.  Hall,  pastor  of  the  North  Baptist 
Church,  whose  son,  Sergeant  Wm.  D.  Hall,  was  a  member 
of  the  company,  welcomed  the  men  home.  There  were 
feasts  and  speeches  and  songs.  A  new  silk  guidon  was  pre 
sented  to  the  company,  and  a  sword,  sash  and  belt  were  pre 
sented  to  Captain  Stevenson  by  the  ladies  of  the  church. 

The  men  of  Company  K  presented  Captain  Bailey  with 
a  sword,  belt  and  sash.  Other  honors  were  conferred  on 
deserving  men.  Warren  was  made  a  non-commissioned  offi 
cer,  and  Colonel  McReynolds  presented  to  Savacool  a  pair 
of  splendid  shoulder  straps  of  a  second  lieutenant.  The 
brave  fellow  had  recovered  from  his  wound  received  in  his 
fight  with  Captain  Blackford,  sufficiently  to  enable  him  to 
go  with  his  comrades  on  their  furlough.  He  was  more 
embarrassed  as  the  recipient  of  his  well-earned  honors  than 
if  he  had  been  facing  an  enemy  in  the  field. 

Company  K  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  F  to 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.  The  men  of  other  companies  separated  to 
their  homes  in  and  around  the  city.  There  were  some  good 
fellows  who  had  no  homes.  Some  of  these  clubbed  to 
gether  at  convenient  places  where  they  made  themselves  at 
home.  Some  of  the  Germans  enjoyed  themselves  in  musical 
societies. 

In  the  meantime  those  who  had  been  detached  on  re 
cruiting  service  were  busy,  with  all  the  inducements  they 


ON  VETERAN  FURLOUGH.  315 

could  offer,  in  persuading  able-bodied  young  men  to  enter 
the  ranks  of  the  regiment.  Men  who  had  nothing  else  to 
do  volunteered  as  recruiting  agents.  Some  of  the  compa 
nies  had  fallen  below  the  minimum  that  entitled  them  to  a 
captain  and  two  lieutenants.  Several  sergeants  had  been  for 
several  months  commissioned  as  lieutenants,  but  not  mus 
tered  because  their  companies  were  below  the  required  num 
bers.  The  recruiting  force  had  done  well  and  when  it  was 
time  to  take  the  field  again  the  companies  were  entitled  to 
their  full  quotas  of  officers. 

$45O     CASH     IN     HAND. 

ENLIST  AT  ONCE,  AND  AVOID  A  DRAFT. 


•TOIK  *f  VETERAN  REGIMENT. 

THE  IST  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY 

The  oldest  Volunteer  Cavalry  Regiment  in  the  U.S.  Service, 
and  whose  reputation  is  excelled  by  none. 


TOTAL    BOUNTY: 
TO   VETERANS,    $777;    TO  ALL  OTHERS,    $677. 

HEADQUARTERS  : 


Lieutenants  A,  0.  HINTON  and  G,  S,  POINDEXTEB, 


316  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  1st  New  York  Cavalry. 


This  regiment  has  re-enlisted  for  the  war,  and  only  requires 
about  200  men  to  fill  it  up  to  the  maximum  standard. 

The  men  of  this  regiment  are  allowed  40  cents  per  day  extra 
for  their  private  horse,  thereby  making  the  pay  of  an  enlisted 
man  from  $26  to  $34  per  month,  according  to  grade.  Read  the 
following  letter  from  BRIG.  GEN.  SULLIVAN,  under  whose  command 
the  regiment  has  been  serving  for  the  last  year. 


Headquarters  First  Division,  Dept.  of  West  Va. 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  February  14,  1864 

MAJOR  T.  QUINN. 

Commanding  1st  regiment  New  York  Cavalry. 

I  desire  to  acknowledge  the  valuable  services  you  have  rendered 
during  the  time  you  have  been  attached  to  the  First  Division. 

The  gallantry  and  zeal  displayed  by  the  officers  and  men  on  all 
occasions,  and  the  promptitude  with  which  you  have  discharged 
your  arduous  duties,  have  been  excelled  by  no  other  cavalry  in 
the  United  States  service. 

I  trust  you  will  meet  with  that  hearty  welcome  you  so  well 
deserve,  and  that,  at  the  expiration  of  your  furlough,  you  will 
join  my  command. 

I  am,  Major, 

Very  Respectfully, 

J.  D.  SULLIVAN, 

Brigadier  General. 
(THE  TWO  SIDES  OF  RECRUITING  CARD.) 

The  furloughs  expired  the  24th  of  March,  and  the  men 
of  the  different  companies  re-assembled  ready  to  return  to 
the  scene  of  war..  The  26th,  they  reached  Frederick,  and 
the  28th,  the  regiment  was  again  at  Halltown  in  the  com 
fortable  quarters  of  an  infantry  regiment  that  had  been  or 
dered  elsewhere.  A  few  men  were  yet  at  Frederick.  In 
Pleasant  Valley,  four  miles  from  Sandy  Hook,  was  Camp 
Davis,  a  camp  of  unmounted  men  of  different  regiments 
waiting  for  horses.  Those  on  recruiting  service  were  still 
gathering  in,  and  occasionally  sending  on  recruits. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
ADVANCING  WITH  SIGEL. 

TIEUTENANT  General  U.  S.  Grant  was  in  command  of 
-I—/  all  the  armies.  There  was  to  be  a  forward  move 
ment  all  along  the  line.  And  there  was  to  be  a  plan  in  all 
the  movements.  Sherman  in  the  West  was  to  move  toward 
Atlanta.  The  armies  in  Eastern  Virginia  were  to  move  up 
on  Richmond.  Those  in  West  Virginia  and  the  Shenan- 
doah  Valley  coming  from  different  directions  were  to  unite 
at  or  near  Lynchburg,  where  they  were  to  be  joined  by 
Sheridan  with  the  cavalry  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Crook  and  Averell  were  to  march  from  the  Kanawha, 
while  Sigel  was  to  go  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

The  regiment  had  won  a  good  name  for  its  operations 
and  for  its  being  so  well  acquainted  with  every  part  of  this 
region.  Averell  asked  for  the  regiment  to  go  with  him. 
Sullivan  wished  to  retain  it  as  part  of  the  force  under  Sigel. 
Finally  it  was  determined  that  Major  Stearns'  battalion  of 
four  companies  should  go  writh  Averell,  and  the  other  eight 
companies  remain. 

April  Qth  and  loth,  a  scout  went  out  on  the  Berryville 
road  to  White  Post,  crossed  over  to  Newtown  and  came 
back  through  Winchester,  but  saw  no  enemy. 

The  1 2th,  Captain  Stevenson  set  out  with  a  hundred 
men  among  the  mountains  to  the  west.  For  several  days 
he  roamed  up  and  down  the  narrow  valleys,  but  he,  too, 

317 


318  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

found  no  armed  force.  General  Averell  sent  an  order  to 
him  to  report  at  Clarksburg.  But  on  reaching  Cumberland 
he  was  ordered  by  General  Sigel  to  return  to  Martinsburg. 
The  battalion  that  had  been  sent  to  Averell,  after  some  of 
the  men  had  watered  their  horses  in  the  Ohio  river,  was 
also  ordered  back  by  railroad  to  the  rest  of  the  regiment. 

The  regiment  was  now  under  the  command  of  Lieut. 
Col.  Adams,  and  the  brigade  under  Colonel  McReynolds. 
General  Julius  Stahel  commanded  the  cavalry,  and  General 
Franz  Sigel  the  division.  By  an  order  of  the  secretary  of 
war,  Colonel  Boyd  of  the  Twenty-first  Pennsylvania  cav 
alry,  whose  regiment  was  at  Chambersburg,  was  directed, 
without  his  regiment,  to  report  to  General  Sigel  for  special 
service.  This  was  supposed  to  have  been  done  at  Sigel's 
request  because  of  Boyd's  acquaintance  with  the  region, 
and  his  uniform  success. 

April  i Qth  and  2Oth,  a  detachment  had  a  skirmish  near 
Cedar  creek,  and  was  forced  to  retire.  Captain  Robert  H. 
O.  Hertzog,  on  the  retreat,  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  fail 
ing  horse.  He  tried  to  avoid  capture  by  taking  refuge  in  a 
wayside  house.  But  his  pursuers  found  him  and  compelled 
him  to  come  forth  from  his  hiding  place.  He  was  a  very 
large  man,  genial  and  genuine,  but  his  proportions  rendered 
him  not  quite  adapted  to  the  quick  movements  expected  of 
light  cavalry. 

The  24th,  another  party  went  to  Woodstock  and  ex 
changed  shots  with  a  small  force  that  fled. 

The  29th,  Sigel  started  on  his  march,  reaching  Bunker 
Hill.  Company  F  was  detached  as  his  special  escort.  May 
ist,  marched  to  Winchester.  The  3rd,  a  scout  went  to 
Woodstock,  finding  no  enemy. 

In  the  meantime  Captain  Stevenson  had  been  scouting 
along  the  Shenandoah  river,  and  watching  the  gaps  through 
the  Blue  Ridge.  No  one  could  tell  when  or  where  to  ex- 


ADVANCING  WITH  SIGEL.  319 

pect  Mosby,  Gilmore  and  McNeil  with  their  atcive  parti 
san  rangers.  They  were  quick  in  their  movements,  and  it 
required  unceasing  vigilance  to  guard  against  their  sudden 
attacks. 

Captain  Stevenson's  force  joined  the  main  body  at 
Winchester  the  6th.  The  7th,  Captains  Battersby  and 
Leavitt  with  their  companies  were  sent  to  Berryville.  The 
night  of  the  8th,  Colonel  Boyd  with  Cole's  battalion,  a  bat 
talion  from  the  First  Veterans,  some  companies  of  the 
Twenty-first  New  York  and  Company  C  of  the  First,  went 
with  a  wagon  train  to  Bunker  Hill.  The  next  morning  the 
train  went  on  to  Martinsburg  while  the  cavalry  proceeded 
through  Summit  Point  to  Berryville. 

A  detail  of  several  men  had  been  sent  from  Winchester 
with  a  dispatch.  On  the  way  to  Berryville  these  men  were 
suddenly  attacked  by  some  of  Mosby's  rangers.  One  of 
them  was  killed.  The  rest  succeeded  in  getting  away  in 
different  directions.  Collins  of  Company  D  succeeded  in 
reaching  Berryville  alone  with  the  dispatch,  and  reported 
what  had  happened. 

Several  detachments  immediately  set  out  to  capture,  if 
possible,  this  party.  Battersby  with  Co.  B  took  the  Win 
chester  road;  Lieutenant  Vermilya  with  Co.  H  started  for 
Millwood ;  Captain  Leavitt  took  a  route  between  these  two. 
Leavitt's  advance  first  caught  sight  of  the  enemy  and  gave 
chase.  The  main  body  followed  rapidly. 

As  Stevenson  relates  it : 

"They  found  an  old  darkey  throwing  his  arms  about  in  wild  con 
fusion,  shouting,  'Fo'  God's  sake,  gemmin,  some  ob  you  go  down  dat 
road.  Mosby  and  fifteen  men  done  gone  dat  ah  way,  and  only  free  of 
you  all's  men  after  dem!'  The  two  Peaveys,  father  and  son,  and 
Bernard  Dougherty  of  Company  B,  started  down  the  road  at  a  gallop, 
and  soon  came  upon  the  three  men  who  had  pursued  the  enemy. 
Young  Peavey  dashed  on,  calling  upon  the  others  to  follow,  and  as  he 


320  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ascended  a  little  hill  in  the  road,  he  was  confronted  by  the  whole  party 
of  graybacks. 

He  looked  around  to  see  where  his  supports  were,  and  found  he 
was  a  hundred  yards  ahead  of  the  nearest,  while  the  others  were  scat 
tered  along  in  single  file  at  about  the  same  intervals.  He  rose  in  his 
stirrups  and  yelled  for  the  company  to  charge,  at  the  same  time  giving 
the  "Johnnies"  the  contents  of  his  carbine,  then  drew  his  revolver.  At 
that  moment  they  opened  on  him  with  revolvers,  being  only  about  fifty 
yards  distant.  Just  then  a  few  of  our  men  hove  in  sight  and  the  gray- 
backs  began  to  waver.  Mosby  called  on  them  to  "charge,"  and  dashed 
forward  himself,  making  straight  for  Peavey,  but  not  one  of  his  men 
followed  him.  They  had  nearly  all  emptied  their  revolvers,  and  two  of 
them  had  been  struck  by  Peavey  in  this  unequal  duel.  The  brave  fellow 
reserved  his  fire  until  Mosby  was  within  three  yards  of  him,  and  then 
pulled  trigger,  expecting  to  send  him  into  eternity,  but  his  pistol  missed 
fire.  He  says  :  'I  thought  I  was  gone  then.  I  still  see  the  ugly  smile  that 
came  over  Mosby's  face,  which  was  as  pale  as  death,  his  hat  gone  and  his 
hair  blown  back,  as  he  took  deliberate  aim  and  fired,  the  muzzle  of 
his  pistol  almost  touching  me,  the  bullet  passing  through  my  right 
hand,  striking  me  in  the  right  breast,  doubling  me  up  in  the  saddle. 
He  then  dashed  on,  exchanging  shots  with  Charley  Clark  who  was 
coming  toward  us,  and  the  next  moment  he  met  father  and  exchanged 
shots  with  him,  the  bullet  passing  through  the  rubber  coat  and  shelter 
tent  strapped  on  the  pommel  of  father's  saddle.  He  next  met  Dough 
erty,  and  they  also  exchanged  shots,  but  without  effect  on  either  side. 
Mosby  seemed  to  think  his  men  were  following  him,  and  that  every 
one  of  us  he  passed  was  a  prisoner.  On  passing  Dougherty  he  pulled 
up  and,  as  he  did  so,  father,  who  had  been  pursuing  him,  and  had 
emptied  his  pistol  in  the  chase,  dashed  past  him.  Mosby's  pistol  was 
now  empty  and  he  returned  it  and  drew  a  fresh  one.  While  he  was 
doing  this  Dougherty  got  into  the  field  close  to  the  fence  and  fired, 
causing  Mosby  to  crouch  low  in  his  saddle,  and  I  thought  he  was 
'gone';  but  he  was  unhurt.  He  then  made  for  me,  pistol  in  hand, 
shouting,  'Surrender!'  My  pistol  was  empty;  I  thought  I  had  my  death 
wound;  and,  my  horse  being  much  heavier  than  his,  I  charged  right 
on  to  him  in  order  to  ride  him  down.  He  jerked  his  horse  aside, 
however,  and  our  boots  just  touched  as  I  shot  past  him  like  a  rocket. 
He  then  fired  at  Dark  who  was  in  rear  of  me,  killing  his  horse.  Then, 
seeing  the  rest  of  our  boys  coming  on  a  run,  he  rode  for  his  life  and 
escaped." 

This  George  G.  Peavey  had  on  every  occasion  shown 
a  bravery  that  bordered  on  recklessness.     It  was  a  great 


ADVANCING  WITH  SIGEL.  321 

disappointment  to  him  and  his  comrades  that  now  he  was 
unable  to  go  on  with  the  rest.  He  was  taken  back  in  an 
impressed  carriage  to  Charlestown.  An  estimable  family, 
with  which  he  had  become  well  acquainted,  living  several 
miles  from  Charlestown  toward  the  Shenandoah,  insisted 
upon  his  staying  with  them  until  he  should  recover  from  his 
wounds.  He  had  taken  risks  in  visiting  this  family.  On 
one  visit  some  Confederate  cavalry  stopped  in  front  of  the 
house.  He  was  hurried  up  stairs.  From  a  window  he 
looked  out  upon  them.  They  were  in  some  excitement. 
They  had  captured  two  or  three  Federals  and  were  evidently 
in  fear  of  pursuit.  One  of  their  number  sat  on  his  horse  at 
ease  and  unconcerned.  This  was  Mosby.  Peavey  had  pur 
chased  for  himself  a  splendid  rifle,  a  more  reliable  weapon 
than  the  carbines  furnished  by  the  government.  For  a  mo 
ment  he  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  take  deliberate 
aim  at  the  head  of  the  dreaded  Confederate  leader  for  whose 
capture  a  major's  commission  had  been  offered.  But  this 
would  not  be  the  honorable  warfare  such  as  Peavey  had  al 
ways  waged — giving  his  enemy  an  equal  chance  with  him 
self  in  an  open  field.  He  could  not  take  such  a  mean  ad 
vantage,  even  of  an  enemy,  and  he  dropped  his  rifle  by  his 
side.  And  it  is  only  justice  to  Mosby  to  say  that,  active  as 
he  was  in  his  partisan  fighting,  he  was  an  honorable  and 
magnanimous  warrior.  After  the  surrender  of  Lee  he  dis 
banded  his  rangers  and  accepted  the  situation.  President 
Grant  was  attracted  to  him  and  gave  him  a  consular 
appointment. 

This  family  cared  for  Peavey  until  he  had  recovered 
from  his  wounds.  Some  Confederates  learned  of  his  being 
here,  and  planned  to  take  him.  The  family  had  notice  of  their 
intentions  and  Peavey  spent  the  night  in  the  adjoining 
woods.  It  was  not  long  before  he  was  again  ready  for 
active  service. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
NEW  MARKET  GAP. 

FTER  Mosby  had  been  beaten  off  the  Union  force  was 
J-  Y-  divided.  Lieutenant  Vermilya  went  on  to  Front 
Royal.  Boyd  with  the  rest,  the  next  day,  crossed  the  Blue 
Ridge  through  Ashby's  Gap  and  moved  southward,  en 
countering  Mosby's  men  at  Paris,  Upperville  and  Rector- 
town.  They  were  not  in  sufficient  numbers  to  make  a  stand, 
but  they  were  continually  skirmishing  around.  From  time 
to  time  parties  would  start  out  to  run  down  these  rangers. 
They  succeeded  in  killing  one  and  capturing  a  few. 

The  1 2th,  Boyd  passed  through  Manassas  Gap  to  Front 
Royal  where  Vermilya  was  waiting.  Detachments  from  the 
First  Veteran  and  the  Twenty-first  were  sent  to  Winchester 
with  the  prisoners.  Companies  F  and  M  of  the  First  were 
with  Sigel.  Details  from  all  the  other  companies  of  the 
First  were  with  Boyd.  This  force  of  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  on  the  morning  of  the  I3th,  moved  on  toward 
Luray  Gap,  with  the  purpose  of  crossing  the  Fort  Valley, 
and  the  Massanutten  Mountain  and  joining  Sigel  at  New 
Market.  This  Fort  Valley  was  named  from  "Powell's 
Fort."  Powell,  an  Englishman,  in  very  early  times  found 
silver  mines  here.  He  coined  the  silver  into  money.  He 
secured  himself  against  annoyance  or  arrest  in  the  fastnesses 
of  the  mountain. 

Several  Confederates  started  up  in  front  of  the  column, 


NEW  MARKET  GAP.  323 

and  on  account  of  the  superior  condition  of  their  horses  kept 
within  a  tantalizing  distance  ahead  of  the  advance  guard, 
defying  every  effort  made  to  run  them  down.  Lieut.  E.  A. 
New  who  was  acting  as  Boyd's  adjutant,  was  with  the  ad 
vance.  Boyd  rode  to  the  head  of  the  column  and  asked 
why  these  men  had  not  been  captured.  Boyd  had  been 
remarkably  successful  ever  since  his  first  gallant  charge  at 
Pohick  Church.  He  now  manifested  a  little  impatience. 
When  told  that  these  Confederates  had  not  been  captured 
because  they  were  too  well  mounted  he  sneeringly  remarked : 
"It  is  very  strange."  A  little  nettled  at  this,  Lieut.  New 
said :  "You  have  a  race  horse,  colonel,  suppose  you  and  I 
try  it."  Boyd  acquiesced  and  they  at  once  started,  New 
taking  the  lead,  and  in  less  than  a  mile  succeeded  in  running 
down  two,  who  made  no  resistance.  Leaving  these  to  be 
taken  care  of  by  Boyd,  New  kept  on  after  another  who  was 
now  only  a  short  distance  ahead.  This  man  was  a  brave  fel 
low  who  made  a  desperate  resistance  and  did  not  surrender 
until  he  had  been  shot  through  the  body  and  New  was  about 
to  sabre  him.  Sergeant  McClellan  of  Co.  C  had  previously 
run  down  one  of  the  rangers. 

Several  wagons  loaded  with  flour  and  salt  were  taken 
and  destroyed.  At  Luray  other  stores  were  destroyed. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  they  reached  the  top  of  Massanut- 
ten  Mountain,  and  from  a  height  of  a  thousand  feet  looked 
down  upon  a  magnificent  scene.  The  valley,  with  New 
Market  in  the  foreground,  lay  spread  out  before  them.  Just 
above  New  Market  they  could  see  troops  encamped,  and 
farther  up  the  valley  toward  Staunton  they  could  see  a  bag 
gage  train  and  a  herd  of  beef  cattle. 

Here  a  halt  was  made  and  a  conference  of  the  officers 
was  held.  Every  one  except  Colonel  Boyd  expressed  the 
opinion  that  the  army  they  saw  was  the  enemy.  He  alone 
insisted  that  they  were  our  men,  even  when  it  was  repre- 


324  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

sented  to  him  how  absurd  it  would  be  for  Sigel  to  place  his 
wagon  train  between  his  army  and  the  enemy.  His  atten 
tion  was  also  called  to  the  fact  that  our  army  had  no  herd 
of  cattle. 

To  settle  the  question  New  volunteered  to  take  a  couple 
of  men  and  find  out.  He  rode  down  the  mountain  and 
toward  New  Market  until  he  came  to  the  bridge  over 
Smith's  creek.  Here  he  was  fired  upon  by  the  pickets  who, 
after  firing,  fell  back.  Going  a  little  farther  he  saw  Confed 
erate  troops  in  position  in  his  front  and  near  the  bank  of 
Smith's  creek  on  his  right.  He  then  started  back  to  inform 
Boyd,  but  he  had  not  gone  a  hundred  yards  before  he  met 
him  at  the  head  of  his  entire  force.  He  was  stunned  and 
bewildered  by  the  unexpected  news.  After  a  short  consulta 
tion  it  was  decided  to  make  their  way  down  along  the  foot 
of  the  mountain.  They  turned  to  the  right  and  recrossed 
the  creek  below  the  bridge.  This  creek  flows  along  about 
half-way  between  the  foot  of  the  mountain  and  the  Valley 
pike.  At  the  bridge  it  turns  to  the  left;  farther  down  it 
flows  to  the  right.  The  left  bank  at  this  point  is  high, 
while  the  opposite  one  is  low. 

The  column  had  gone  but  a  few  hundred  yards  when 
a  body  of  cavalry  was  seen  crossing  the  creek  on  the  left, 
with  the  evident  purpose  of  intercepting  the  retreat.  New 
turned  to  Boyd  and  said :  "We'll  have  to  fight  now."  Boyd 
said:  "Yes."  New  gave  the  order:  "Left  into  line." 
This  brought  the  men  into  line  facing  the  creek  and  the 
enemy,  who  were  about  a  third  of  a  mile  distant. 

Back  of  our  line,  probably  a  little  more  distant,  was 
the  mountain.  The  side  of  the  mountain  was  very  steep 
and  covered  with  timber  and  huge  bowlders,  and  scored 
with  ravines.  The  timber  extended  with  varying  distances 
from  the  base  of  the  mountain  out  into  the  plain. 

New  proposed  to  take  a  detachment  and  drive  the  en- 


NEW  MARKET  GAP.  325 

emy  back.  To  this  Boyd  assented,  promising  to  give  him 
efficient  support  in  case  he  should  be  driven  back.  Taking 
about  eighty  men  he  gave  the  order  to  unsling  carbines, 
and  advanced  rapidly  to  meet  the  approaching  enemy.  See 
ing  that  the  fire  of  his  men  was  ineffective,  when  about  a 
hundred  yards  from  the  opposing  line  he  ordered  his  men 
to  sling  carbines  and  draw  sabres.  The  rebels  evidently  did 
not  relish  the  prospect  of  contact  with  the  cold  steel,  for  they 
fell  back  in  confusion  across  the  creek.  New  then  ordered 
his  men  to  fall  back.  They  fell  back  slowly,  continuing  to 
fire  upon  the  rebel  cavalry  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek. 
They  had  got  about  half  way  to  the  woods  when  a  large 
force  of  infantry  reached  the  bank  of  the  creek  and  opened 
a  galling  fire  upon  them. 

At  the  same  time,  looking  around  to  their  right,  they 
found  that  Boyd  and  the  force  with  him  had  disappeared, 
and  in  their  place  was  a  heavy  column  of  rebel  cavalry  mov 
ing  rapidly  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  threatening  to 
cut  them  off  from  the  woods. 

The  men,  realizing  that  their  only  hope  of  escape  from 
capture  was  to  reach  the  woods  before  the  rebel  cavalry 
could  cut  them  off,  now  pressed  their  horses  to  their  utmost 
speed,  and  passed  into  the  woods  and  part  way  up  the 
mountain,  almost  side  by  side  with  the  rebels. 

In  the  meanwhile  Boyd,  who  should  have  moved  his 
men  to  the  right  oblique,  appears  to  have  held  them  in  line 
where  New  had  left  him,  until  the  rebels  brought  up  their 
artillery  to  the  bank  of  the  creek  in  front  and  opened  on  his 
men  with  grape  and  canister.  They  almost  immediately 
got  the  range,  and  men  and  horses  were  struck  down.  Boyd, 
seeing  that  his  position  was  untenable,  ordered  his  men  to 
move  toward  the  woods.  Before  entering  the  woods  the  line 
was  thrown  into  some  confusion  by  a  rail  fence  through 
which  the  men  had  to  pass  under  heavy  fire,  and  after  get- 


326  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ting  into  the  woods,  the  rough  nature  of  the  ground  sepa 
rated  and  scattered  them  so  that  organized  resistance  was 
impossible. 

As  the  trap  was  now  sprung,  the  Confederates  proceeded 
to  block  every  way  by  which  escape  might  be  effected. 
With  a  force  many  times  more  numerous  than  that  of 
Boyd's,  they  were  able  to  surround  our  men  on  all  sides. 
Even  the  crest  of  Massanutten  Mountain  was  carefully 
picketed  and  patrolled,  as  was  found  by  some  of  our  men, 
who,  after  exhausting  efforts,  reached  the  top,  and  were 
compelled  to  seek  escape  in  other  directions. 

The  open  ground  between  Smith's  creek  was  carefully 
guarded  for  miles  toward  Woodstock,  and  large  parties  in 
every  direction  scoured  the  woods  where  our  men  lay  hid 
den  in  thickets,  awaiting  the  coming  darkness  to  help  them 
to  escape. 

Owing  to  the  steep  and  rough  surface  of  the  ground, 
and  because  the  girths  were  slackened  by  the  day's  march, 
many  saddles  slipped,  the  riders  were  thrown  to  the  ground 
and  the  excited  horses  could  not  be  caught.  Other  riders 
were  swept  off  their  horses  by  limbs  of  trees  and  other  ob 
structions.  The  horses  of  many  gave  out.  All  these  had 
to  make  their  way  on  foot. 

Desperate  as  was  the  situation,  the  men  did  not  despair, 
but  with  a  resolution  hardened  by  a  knowledge  of  the  im 
pending  horrors  of  Andersonville,  they  set  themselves  to 
work  to  escape  from  the  perilous  predicament  in  which,  in 
consequence  of  Boyd's  blind  obstinacy,  they  found  them 
selves. 

Welcome  darkness  came  to  their  relief,  and  enabled 
them  to  slip  unseen  past  the  enemy's  scouts.  Singly,  by  twos, 
by  threes,  or  in  larger  parties,  they  pressed  northward.  The 
mountain  on  their  right,  a  sure  guide  as  to  direction,  kept 
many  from  getting  confused  and  losing  their  way.  Through 


NEW  MARKET  GAP.  327 

the  whole  night  they  pressed  forward,  bruised  by  the  rocks 
and  other  obstacles,  oppressed  with  fatigue,  hungry  and 
desperate,  sometimes  overcome  by  sleep,  the  allurements  of 
which  were  most  difficult  to  resist.  The  night,  too,  was 
rainy. 

By  daylight  they  had  made  good  progress  toward 
Sigel's  army.  Those  who  were  mounted  were  compara 
tively  safe  from  pursuit.  The  foremost  of  these  reached 
the  Shenandoah  about  noon,  and  crossed,  some  by  swim 
ming  their  horses,  others  in  boats  or  on  hastily  built  rafts, 
and  Sigel  was  informed  of  the  disaster.  Those  who  had 
lost  their  horses  were  straggling  into  our  lines  for  several 
days.  Why  a  force  was  not  thrown  across  the  river  to 
cover  the  retreat  of  the  fugitives  was  never  explained. 

But  all  did  not  escape.  About  one  hundred  men  of 
the  First  New  York,  nearly  half  the  number  engaged,  were 
either  killed  or  captured.  The  dead,  including  those  who 
died  in  rebel  prisons,  amounted  to  at  least  forty  of  the  First. 
Of  those  who  survived  the  horrors  of  the  prisons  nearly  all 
died  prematurely,  their  vitality  destroyed  by  starvation. 

Cole's  battalion  lost  proportionally. 

Gilmore  and  Mosby  had  observed  the  movements  of 
Boyd's  force  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  up  the  Luray  valley, 
and  had  reported  them  to  Imboden,  and  all  three  had  laid  the 
plan  to  capture  the  entire  force.  If  Boyd  had  turned  back 
from  the  top  of  the  mountain  he  would  probably  have  had 
to  fight  in  the  Fort  valley. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  severity  of  the  firing  from  the 
infantry,  in  a  very  short  space  of  time  a  bullet  passed  through 
the  cap  of  Lieutenant  New;  another  cut  a  button  off  his 
coat;  a  third  cut  his  stirrup  strap,  and  a  fourth  passed 
through  the  blanket  roll  on  his  saddle. 

Bartholomew  Besley  had  dismounted  to  tighten  his 
saddle  girth  when  a  bullet  struck  him  in  the  calf  of  his  leg. 


328  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

E.  L.  Mitchell  was  riding  past  when,  seeing  Besley  wounded, 
he  stopped  and  dismounted  to  assist  him  on  his  horse.  While 
he  was  doing  this  three  Confederates  rushed  past.  A  shot 
from  one  of  these  broke  his  horse's  knee.  He  darted  into 
the  woods  on  foot,  and  finally,  through  the  help  of  an  old 
negro,  reached  camp  in  safety.  Besley 's  fine,  private  Black 
Hawk,  one  of  the  best  horses  in  the  regiment,  was  killed, 
and  Besley  was  a  prisoner.  Charles  R.  Peterson  was  in 
tent  on  doing  the  enemy  some  damage  while  trying  to  get 
away  from  them.  While  urging  his  horse  to  the  utmost 
along  the  mountain  side,  he  would  now  and  then  turn  in  his 
saddle  and,  giving  a  loud  and  peculiar  war  whoop,  give  his 
pursuers  shot  after  shot  from  his  carbine.  He,  too,  was 
a  prisoner. 

One  bullet  struck  Captain  Stevenson's  scabbard;  an 
other  passed  through  his  blanket  strapped  in  a  roll  on  the 
cantle  of  his  saddle.  Sergeant  J.  J.  Snyder  and  several 
others  wandered  together  on  the  mountain  all  night  in  the 
heavy  rain.  In  the  morning  they  came  in  sight  of  a  house, 
Snyder  proposed  to  go  to  the  house.  The  others  thought 
best  to  avoid  houses.  Snyder  went  alone.  On  entering  he 
found  several  Confederates  there  eating  breakfast.  Seeing 
no  chance  of  escape,  and  thinking  he  might  as  w^ell  make  the 
best  of  it,  he  deliberately  sat  down  at  the  table  to  eat  with 
them.  He  was  their  prisoner.  Soon  some  shots  were 
heard.  Snyder  told  his  captors  that  they  had  better  get 
away,  as  a  body  of  Federal  cavalry  was  scouting  along  the 
river.  They  hurriedly  left,  taking  him  with  them.  But  he 
took  advantage  of  their  excited  condition  and  soon  got  away 
from  them.  He  returned  to  the  house,  finished  eating  his 
breakfast,  compelled  his  unwilling  host  to  row  him  across 
the  river,  and  he  was  soon  among  his  friends. 

The  heaviest  company  losses  were  in  D,  I,  and  L — 
fifteen,  sixteen  and  sixteen  respectively.  C  lost  six,  and  B 


NEW  MARKET  GAP.  329 

seven.  Other  company  losses  were  between  six  and  six 
teen.  The  wonder  was  that  the  whole  of  Boyd's  command 
was  not  captured.  Hemmed  in  between  mountain  and  river, 
with  superior  forces  on  all  sides,  it  was  individual  deter 
mination  that  saved  those  who  escaped. 

Charles  B.  Evarts,  son  of  Hon.  William  M.  Evarts, 
U.  S.  senator,  and  secretary  of  state  to  President  Hayes, 
was  a  student  in  Yale  College.  He  was  nineteen  years  of 
age.  His  father  was  in  Europe.  Impulse  and  a  sense  of 
duty  to  the  country  led  him  to  leave  college.  He  went  to 
New  York,  and,  February  I5th,  enlisted  in  this  regiment, 
and  was  assigned  to  Company  K.  This  affair  at  New 
Market  Gap  was  his  first  experience  in  active  service.  He 
bore  himself  well.  He  was  among  those  who  escaped  on 
foot.  He  served  through  the  subsequent  campaigns  of 
Hunter  and  Sheridan.  He  was  discharged  for  disability, 
January  23,  1865,  at  United  States  hospital,  New  York. 

He  was  a  young  man  of  sterling  character,  greatly, 
esteemed  by  his  comrades  in  the  service  and  after  the  war. 

Although  anticipating  somewhat,  the  following  letter 
and  resolutions  seem  a  fitting  conclusion  to  this  chapter : 

HARRISONBURG,  VA.,  Nov.  9,  1885. 
Mr.  Charles  B.  Evarts. 

MY  DEAR  SIR:  By  express  to-day  I  forward  to  you  the  carved 
cane  which  I  promised  you  at  the  period  of  your  visit  to  the  Valley  of 
Virginia  with  Sheridan's  Veterans.  You  will  permit  me  to  add  the 
following  account  of  the  cane  and  its  symbolism : 

The  wood  is  Haw,  grown  in  the  most  historic  part  of  the  South, 
the  Valley  of  Virginia,  the  scene  of  the  charges  and  marches  of  Jack 
son's  "Foot  Cavalry."  Upon  the  handle  of  the  cane  is  carved  almost 
the  full  equipment  of  a  cavalryman.  Here  is  the  trenchant  sabre,  but 
sheathed,  as  Heaven  grant  it  may  ever  be,  except  against  a  foreign  foe. 
Here  is  the  "Colt's",  but  pointed  harmlessly  to  the  ground;  here  the 
steed,  "the  steed  of  matchless  speed;"  here  the  canteen,  uncorked  and 
free  to  every  thirsty  lip;  here  the  field  glass,  which  shall  sweep  the 
South  and  find  everywhere  loyalty  to  the  Union,  and  friendship  for 


330  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

her  Veteran  Soldiery;  here  the  National  Eagle,  with  wings  outspread; 
finally,  here  is  the  Historic  Haversack,  carried  by  the  Crow  that  in 
1864  was  in  need  to  bear  his  provisions  when  flying  over  the  Valley 
behind  Sheridan's  army,  a  little  empty,  as  you  see,  for  now  smiling 
peace  has  resumed  her  quiet  sway,  and  the  sturdy  farmer  hoards  his 
grain  for  the  nourishment  of  his  own,  and  the  willing  entertainment 
of  his  brethren  from  the  North. 

The  spurs,  only,  are  omitted.  The  gallantry  with  which  Boyd's 
cavalry  extricated  themselves  from  the  cul  de  sac  in  New  Market  Gap 
would  indicate  that  such  splendid  horsemen  did  not  need  to  wear,  such 
mettled  steeds  to  feel,  a  spur. 

I  am  neither  artist  nor  artisan,  but  the  work,  such  as  it  is,  was 
executed  by  my  own  hand  with  a  pocket  knife  as  its  only  tool. 

May  the  years  be  many  before  you  need  the  aid  of  a  stouter 
support. 

Very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)     JAS.  H.  DWYER. 

To  the  family  of  the  late  Charles  B.  Evarts: 

At  the  Regular  Annual  meeting  of  the  First  New  York  (Lincoln) 
Cavalry  Association,  held  at  Turn  Verein  Hall,  East  6;th  street,  New 
York  City,  April  igth,  1892,  Robert  I.  Wallace  presiding,  it  was 
unanimously 

"Resolved,  That  we,  the  surviving  members  of  the  First  New  York 
(Lincoln)  Cavalry,  tender  our  heartfelt  sympathy  to  the  family  of 
our  late  comrade-in-arms,  Lieut.  Charles  B.  Evarts,  in  their  sorrow 
at  the  untimely  removal  from  this  life  of  a  dutiful  son  and  loving 
brother.  During  the  many  years,  amid  the  imminent  dangers  of  war 
and  in  the  more  pleasant  scenes  of  peace,  he  became  endeared  to  us 
as  a  true  soldier,  a  faithful  friend — a  man — "without  fear,  without 
reproach,"  ever  courteous,  and  considerate  to  those  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact.  While  in  the  home  circle  he  will  be  more  sadly 
missed  and  his  loss  more  deeply  felt,  we  desire  to  testify  that  their 
loss  is  ours,  less  only  in  degree,  and  not  in  kind,  and  that  we  shall 
cherish  his  memory  as  long  as  one  member  of  the  organization  shall 
survive." 

GEO.  G.  PEAVEY, 
LEMOYNE  BURLEIGH, 
WM.  VERRINDER,  JR., 

Committee. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 
CHARLES  R.  PETERSON'S  PRISON  DIARY. 

DIARY  of  Charles  R.  Peterson,  taken  prisoner  at  New 
Market  Gap.. 

May  13,  reached  the  little  village  of  Luray  at  dinner  time.  Stopped 
and  fed,  then  continued  our  march  westward.  Pass  over  a  spur  of  the 
mountain  toward  New  Market,  expecting  to  meet  there  the  forces  of 
General  Sigel  whose  instructions  to  Colonel  Boyd  were  to  enter  the 
town.  From  the  top  of  the  mountain  forces  could  be  seen  about  the 
village.  These  were  supposed  by  some  to  be  our  own.  When  the 
pickets  were  reached  they  were  found  to  be  rebels.  It  was  then  too 
late  to  retreat.  In  less  than  ten  minutes  two  heavy  columns  of  cavalry 
were  charging  down  on  us,  one  in  our  front  and  another  in  our  rear. 
Two  pieces  of  artillery  began  to  send  grape  and  canister  at  short  range 
through  our  ranks.  Our  three  hundred  men  stood  firm,  awaiting  their 
attack  until  they  were  close  upon  us.  Then  drawing  sabres  we  charged 
the  column  in  front  driving  it  before  us.  But  owing  to  the  nature  of 
the  ground  it  was  impossible  to  break  through.  The  only  alternative 
was  to  turn  about  and  charge  those  in  the  rear,  break  through  their 
lines  and  take  to  the  mountain  which  was  close  at  hand.  This  was 
done.  Our  loss  proves  the  hardest  kind  of  fighting.  I  am  one  of 
seven  of  Company  B  taken.  Kept  at  New  Market  that  night  without 
any  kind  of  shelter,  the  rain  pouring  down  on  us  in  torrents,  and  we 
had  nothing  to  keep  it  off.  The  villains  took  the  blankets,  rubbers, 
overcoats,  and  in  many  cases  the  hats  and  coats  of  the  prisoners. 

May  14 — They  started  us  off  this  morning  toward  Staunton.  Pro 
gress  very  slow  owing  to  the  continued  rain,  and  the  condition  of  many 
of  the  men  who  seemed  to  be  giving  out  Stopped  for  the  night  in  an 
old  house  near  General  Breckinridge's  headquarters.  Drenched  to  the 
skin,  so  sleep  but  little.  Seven  miles. 

May  15,  marched  to  Harrisonburg,  eight  miles.  Rested  and  went 
on.  Roads  very  wet.  Fine  sand  getting  into  our  shoes  and  boots  makes 

331 


332  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

bad  walking.  Walk  nine  miles  this  afternoon  and  stop  at  a  church. 
Received  rations  of  blue  bread  and  fat  bacon,  very  small  pieces. 

May  16,  marched  to  Staunton,  eighteen  miles.  A  hard  tramp.  Re 
ceived  rations  of  hard  bread  and  bacon— five  crackers  and  a  half  pound 
of  bacon  per  day.  Not  U.  S.  rations.  Lodged  in  the  guard  house. 
Slept  soundly.  All  tired  out. 

May  17,  stepped  into  the  cars  this  morning.  Pleasant  ride  to 
Charlottesville.  Bought  a  few  pies  at  $2.00  a  pie.  Very  poor  ones  at 
that.  Could  eat  six  of  them  at  once.  Reached  Lynchburg  at  6  p.m., 
130  miles. 

May  18,  Lynchburg.  Encamped  in  a  small  valley  called  Yankee 
Hollow.  High  hills  all  around  us.  A  small  brook  near  the  camp, 
which  is  a  great  blessing  this  hot  weather. 

May  19,  eighteen  hundred  more  prisoners  came  in  to-day  from  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  They  report  hard  fighting  between  Lee  and 
Grant,  with  no  decisive  results.  We  are  all  anxious  to  hear  how  the 
battle  is  going.  Expect  to  be  moved  to-morrow. 

May  20,  left  camp  and  took  the  cars.  Busied  myself  looking  out 
of  the  car  door  at  different  objects,  and  comparing  this  section  of 
Virginia  with  the  Valley.  Soil  appears  poor  and  the  timber  light. 
The  Valley  is  ahead  of  this  part  of  Virginia. 

May  21,  reached  Danville  this  morning,  180  miles:  Spent  a  very 
uncomfortable  night  in  the  cars.  Could  neither  lie  nor  sit  down  on 
account  of  being  so  crowded.  At  times  could  hardly  get  my  feet  to 
the  floor.  Marched  from  the  cars  to  prison  and  closely  confined.  Given 
rations  of  corn  bread,  very  coarse,  ground  cob  and  all,  and  one-half 
pound  of  bacon.  Not  enough  to  make  one  fat,  but  enough  to  keep 
alive  on.  Many  of  the  men  are  sick  and  seem  to  be  discouraged. 
Some  of  us  were  singing  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  when  the  guard 
below  fired  at  us.  The  ball  passed  through  the  floor  and  lodged  in 
the  ceiling  above.  No  one  hit. 

May  22,  started  this  morning  for  Andersonville,  Georgia,  400  miles. 
It  will  be  a  tiresome  journey,  as  we  have  to  ride  in  freight  cars  crowded 
so  full  that  no  one  can  lie  or  sit  down  with  any  comfort.  This  is 
worse  than  fighting. 

May  23,  still  in  the  cars.  Not  allowed  as  much  water  as  we  want 
to  drink.  This  is  horrible  this  hot,  dusty  weather.  Passed  through 
Columbia,  the  capital  of  South  Carolina.  Suffered  intensely  from 
thirst.  Curses  of  the  boys,  too  numerous  and  bad  to  mention,  rest  on 
this  city  and  those  in  charge  of  us. 

May  24,  slept  but  little  last  night.  Hope  to  reach  our  destination 
soon,  as  this  is  hard  business.  Passed  through  Augusta  this  morning. 


CHARLES  R.  PETERSON'S  PRISON  DIARY.  333 

Appears  to  be  a  fine  place.     Changed  cars  and  guards.     From  the  looks 
of  the  new  guard,  I  think  we  will  receive  better  treatment. 

May  25,  one  night  more  in  the  cars  and  we  have  at  last  reached  our 
destination.  Some  delay  occasioned  by  counting  the  men  off  into  com 
panies  of  270  men.  Then  each  company  was  marched  into  the  stock 
ade  prison.  Here  the  scene  beggars  description.  Within  the  space  of 
sixteen  acres  are  confined  sixteen  thousand  (16,000)  Union  prisoners. 
There  is  a  small  brook  running  through  the  center  of  the  plat.  The 
ground  rises  on  either  side,  but  in  the  center  is  a  pestilent  swamp  of 
four  acres,  so  that  the  remaining  ground  is  thickly  covered.  In  fact 
there  is  hardly  room  to  place  a  small  tent.  The  sun  is  very  hot.  The 
heat  will  cause  the  death  of  many  who  have  no  shelter.  Five  of  us 
have  erected  a  slight  shelter  consisting  of  one  woolen  and  one  rubber 
blanket.  This  comprises  our  whole  stock  of  covering,  so  that  we  have 
nothing  to  lie  on,  and  nothing  to  cover  us  with  at  night.  This  will  be 
inconvenient  on  cold,  rainy  nights. 

This  is  the  third  day  without  anything  to  eat.  One  day's  rations 
for  four  days  make  slim  living.  Can't  expect  much  here,  but  don't  like 
starving.  Rations  have  come  at  last.  Will  soon  be  chewing  more 
corn  bread  and  bacon. 

Retiring  is  a  very  simple  thing,  simply  lie  down  on  the  sand  and 
sleep  the  best  you  can — or  lie  awake. 

May  27,  nothing  special  to-day.  The  camp  is  filled  with  rumors  of 
release.  Reported  that  Sherman's  cavalry  is  at  Macon,  fifty  miles 
distant,  and  that  we  will  be  free  in  three  days.  Also,  that  Atlanta  is 
in  our  possession,  only  rumors,  of  course. 

May  28,  more  prisoners  have  come  in  to-day.  They  were  captured 
fourteen  days  ago,  and  bring  us  nothing  in  regard  to  what  the  army 
is  doing.  This  is  a  miserable  place,  but  it  will  not  do  to  get  dis 
couraged. 

May  29,  this  is  the  Sabbath  with  little  to  remind  one  that  it  is  a 
day  set  apart  from  all  others.  On  the  small  space  of  unoccupied 
ground  at  the  brook,  are  many  engaged  in  card  playing  and  gambling, 
while  near  them  are  men  unable  to  help  themselves.  They  are  on  the 
verge  of  the  grave,  beyond  human  help,  in  a  dying  condition. 

May  30,  seven  hundred  more  prisoners  come  in  to-day  from  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  space  is  all  occupied  and  very  much 
crowded.  The  rations  have  been  cut  down  to  a  slice  of  corn  bread 
per  day,  and  meat  in  proportion.  Not  enough  for  one  meal. 

June  i,  many  are  sick  and  unable  to  move.  The  condition  is 
horrible.  Language  cannot  describe  it.  The  hospital  is  little  better 
than  the  camp.  No  blankets  and  none  of  the  comforts  of  life. 


334  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

June  2,  the  air  was  cooled  to-day  by  a  refreshing  shower.  It 
seemed  so  nice  and  cool,  but  it  drenched  those  who  have  no  shelter. 

June  3,  another  fine  shower.  Five  hundred  more  prisoners  from 
Grant's  army.  No  news,  as  they  were  taken  some  days  since.  One 
man  was  shot  and  instantly  killed  yesterday  by  the  guard.  His  offense 
was  leaning  against  the  dead  line.  Another  was  killed  to-day.  A 
just  retribution  will  sometime  come  for  such  deeds. 

June  4,  steady  rain  all  day. 

June  5,  the  rebels  have  done  another  great  thing.  They  have 
ceased  to  give  us  cooked  rations.  They  give  us  dry  corn  meal,  one- 
half  pint  per  day.  We  have  almost  no  cooking  utensils,  and  they  do 
not  give  us  wood  enough  to  cook  with. 

June  6,  another  shower.  Feel  a  little  weak  from  the  heat  and  im 
proper  food.  The  mortality  is  ninety  per  day.  The  average  for  some 
time  has  been  fifty  a  day. 

June  7,  20,000  prisoners  here  now.  Many  sick.  A  negro  soldier 
died  to-day.  He  had  been  wounded,  and  had  suffered  intensely.  The 
surgeon  said  with  an  oath,  "Good  enough  for  him." 

Our  day's  rations  are  not  half  enough  for  one  meal. 

June  9,  this  morning  as  the  sick  men  were  being  taken  out  in  blankets 
to  see  the  doctor,  one  poor  fellow  wanted  to  be  taken  to  the  hospital. 
He  was  told  to  await  his  turn.  When  they  reached  him  it  was  too 
late.  The  heat  of  the  sun  had  killed  him.  Another  man  shot  by  the 
guard  and  instantly  killed. 

June  10,  to-day  eighteen  men  went  out  in  the  woods  with  six 
guards.  They  overpowered  the  guards,  taking  their  guns,  and  com 
pelling  them  to  go  along,  and  made  their  escape.  Hope  they  will  get 
to  our  lines. 

June  13,  rain  all  last  night.  A  cold,  stormy  day.  Very  bad  for 
the  sick.  One  hundred  and  two  died  last  night. 

June  14,  still  raining.  Very  cold.  It  is  terrible  to  see  the  suffer 
ing  of  the  men  in  this  camp.  Numbers  are  without  shelter  of  any 
kind — coatless,  bootless,  friendless  and  forsaken.  Some  of  them  have 
nothing  on  but  a  shirt  or  a  pair  of  drawers. 

June  15,  cold  and  stormy.  Our  rations  for  the  past  few  days 
have  been  a  half  pint  of  rice  and  a  quarter  pound  of  bacon  per  day — 
just  enough  to  keep  life  in  the  body.  The  chronic  diarrhea  seems  to 
be  killing  off  the  old  prisoners  very  fast.  Two  brothers  tenting  a  few 
steps  from  us  have  both  died  of  it — the  last  one  last  night.  A  poor 
fellow  lay  in  front  of  our  tent  all  night  in  convulsions.  Nothing  could 
be  done  for  him.  I  am  thankful  there  are  none  of  my  relations  or 
dear  friends  in  this  prison. 

June  16,  many  are  affected  with  the  scurvy,  mostly  those  who  have 


CHARLES  R.  PETERSON'S  PRISON  DIARY.  335 

no  money  with  which  to  buy  vegetables.  Everything  is  so  high:  $1.00 
for  an  onion;  $1.00  for  a  quart  of  beans;  $5.00  for  a  bar  of  soap;  $1.00 
for  a  pound  of  salt. 

June  18,  more  prisoners  came  in  to-day  from  Hunter's  command. 
Saw  some  of  our  boys.  Sorry  to  see  them  here.  Hardships  change 
some  men  into  villains.  There  are  those  here  who  would  rob  and 
murder  our  own  men  for  their  possessions. 

June  20,  cleared  off.  The  sun  came  out  scorching  hot.  Then 
came  up  a  heavy  thunder  storm.  Such  a  rain  I  never  saw  before.  It 
was  astonishing,  the  quantity  of  water  that  fell  in  so  short  a  time.  Wish 
it  would  wash  down  the  stockade  and  give  us  a  chance  to  get  away. 

June  22,  met  some  old  friends  to-day.  Hardly  knew  them.  Had 
not  seen  them  for  three  years.  They  belong  to  Company  A,  I48th 
N.  Y.  Sorry  to  see  them  here. 

June  24,  the  hottest  day  I  ever  experienced.  There  are  now  25,- 
380  men  in  this  pen,  divided  into  94  detachments  of  270  each. 

June  25,  rumors  of  exchange.  They  say  it  will  begin  the  7th  of 
next  month.  Don't  much  believe  it. 

June  26,  attended  a  religious  meeting  this  afternoon,  the  first  of 
the  kind  I  have  seen  since  entering  the  stockade.  Some  of  the  men 
seem  very  earnest  in  their  purposes.  Some  consolation  and  hope  are 
needed  in  this  valley  of  sin  and  suffering. 

***##*#**#*#** 

June  28,  a  few  more  prisoners  came  to-day,  among  them  fifty 
Indians.  They  are  very  stout,  athletic  men.  The  raiders  have  been 
at  work  again  to-day.  They  robbed  a  man  of  $180,  and  beat  him  so 
severely  that  his  life  is  despaired  of. 

June  29,  last  night  one  of  the  raiders  tried  to  rob  an  Indian.  It 
was  a  costly  undertaking.  The  Indian  struck  him  with  a  knife,  killing 
him  instantly. 

June  30,  the  guards,  assisted  by  some  of  our  own  men,  who  have 
been  robbed,  are  going  through  the  camp  arresting  raiders.  They  are 
succeeding  well. 

July  i,  the  raiders  are  under  trial  by  a  judge  and  jury  of  our  own 
men.  All  the  detachments  from  the  forty-fifth  up  moved  into  the  new 
stockade  to-day.  Ours,  the  fifty-ninth,  was,  of  course,  one  of  them. 
Our  new  position  is  too  far  from  water. 

July  2,  commenced  a  well  to-day  by  the  side  of  our  tent.  Not 
very  hard  digging.  Lowered  it  twelve  feet.  Red  sand. 

July  3,  Sunday  morning.  The  people  at  home  are  preparing  for 
church.  I  will  try  not  to  feel  downhearted.  If  it  were  possible  for 


336  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

them  to  get  one  glimpse  of  us  in  this  place  they  would  feel  worse  than 
we  do. 

July  4,  nothing  going  on  to  remind  us  that  it  is  the  anniversary  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence — no  salutes  or  anything  of  the  kind. 
The  heaviest  thunder  shower  I  ever  saw.  It  was  grand. 

************** 

July  6,  there  seems  to  be  less  sickness  than  there  was  a  few  days 
ago.  Our  well  is  thirty  feet  deep.  No  signs  of  water.  There  is  one 
near  us  sixty  feet,  and  no  water. 

************** 

July  9,  our  well  is  going  down  finely.  Fifty-five  feet  deep.  Hope 
we  will  get  water  soon.  The  walls  stand  firm.  Some  wells  have  caved 
in — work  all  in  vain. 

July  n,  six  of  the  raiders  were  hanged  this  afternoon — stretched 
up  by  the  neck  until  they  were  dead.  One  of  them  broke  the  rope. 
He  begged  for  his  life,  but  was  put  up  again  and  dropped  the  second 
time.  There  was  no  excitement  over  it ;  all  quiet.  The  execution  took 
place  inside  the  stockade  near  the  south  gate.  It  was  an  impressive 
scene,  one  not  easily  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  witnessed  it.  The 
men  were,  without  doubt,  guilty  and  met  a  deserved  fate.  May  God 
pity  them. 

July  12,  how  hardened  human  nature  can  become,  lost  to  all  feel 
ings  of  humanity.  Four  prisoners  were  shot  by  the  guard  for  being 
over  the  dead  line.  Shot  without  a  word  of  warning,  and  with  no 
chance  of  trying  to  get  on  safe  ground.  Every  guard  that  shoots  a 
man,  they  say,  gets  thirty  days'  furlough  or  $30;  and  the  guards  watch 
for  an  opportunity.  Our  well  is  sixty  feet  deep.  No  water  yet.  Will 
find  it  to-morrow. 

July  14,  cannot  finish  our  well  to-day  on  account  of  having  no 
rope.  The  captain  in  command  sent  for  the  sergeants  of  the  com 
panies  and  ordered  them  to  warn  the  men  not  to  try  to  make  a  break 
or  he  would  open  on  them  with  artillery,  and  not  leave  a  man  standing 
in  the  camp.  In  view  of  this  it  was  thought  best  not  to  try  this  time, 
but  wait  until  our  tunnels  are  finished  and  then  go  in  the  night.  The 
rebs  may  get  their  eyes  open  some  day.  They  have  been  looking  for 
tunnels  to-day,  but  did  not  succeed  in  finding  any. 

************** 

July  16,  to-day  they  succeeded  in  finding  our  main  tunnel,  and 
have  been  busy  in  filling  it  up.  Too  bad.  There  must  be  traitors  in 
camp.  Our  well  is  finished,  seventy  feet  deep  and  plenty  of  good  water. 

July  17,  two  men  shot  by  the  guard.  No  wonder  that  men  will 
dig  deep  under  ground  to  get  out  of  this  slaughter  pen. 


CHARLES  R.  PETERSON'S  PRISON  DIARY.  337 

Quite  an  excitement  this  morning  as  the  man  who  disclosed  the 
secret  of  the  tunnel  was  found  out.  He  was  taken  in  hand,  one-half 
of  his  head  shaved,  a  large  letter  "T"  branded  on  his  forehead  in 
India  ink,  and  then  marched  through  camp  with  a  huge  placard  pinned 
to  his  back,  and  the  word  "Traitor"  on  it  in  large  letters.  The  boys 
threw  sand  and  mud  at  him,  kicked  him  and  made  all  sorts  of  fun 
of  him.  The  reward  of  his  treason  was  half  a  plug  of  tobacco. 

July  18,  another  poor  fellow  shot  in  the  night.  The  guard  said  it 
was  accidental.  No  rations  to-day  on  account  of  yesterday's  proceedings. 

July  20,  the  rebels,  are  throwing  up  breastworks.  This  looks 
suspicious  and  indicates  that  something  is  up.  It  is  possible  that  some 
of  our  forces  are  trying  to  get  to  us. 

July  22,  three  men  shot  to-day  by  one  of  the  sentries.    This  I  saw. 

July  23,  one  of  the  rebel  sergeants  was  shot  to-day.  He  was  wear 
ing  blue  clothes ;  some  that  he  had  taken  from  our  men.  He  stepped 
into  the  dead  line  for  something  and  was  shot  instantly. 

July  24,  the  Sabbath.  Have  spent  most  of  the  day  in  reading  the 
Bible,  and  have  tried  to  be  contented.  The  nights  are  getting  cold. 
Hot  days  and  cold  nights  are  hard  on  those  who  have  no  shelter  at  all. 
We  must  keep  our  courage  up  and  take  good  care  of  ourselves.  They 
give  us  cooked  rice  now,  but  not  enough  to  do  us  much  good.  Hungry 

times. 

************** 

July  27,  four  hundred  and  ninety-six  prisoners  came  in  to-day, 
and  among  them  are  two  more  of  Company  B.  Nine  of  the  company 
here  now. 

July  28,  1,900  from  Sherman's  army,  taken  near  Atlanta.  Sixteen 
of  the  sick  died  at  the  gate  this  morning  in  a  very  short  time.  They 
were  carried  up  to  see  the  doctor.  Between  sixty  and  seventy  die 
daily.  They  get  homesick  and  give  up  to  discouragement. 

************** 

July  30,  excitement  runs  high.  Rumors  that  Stoneman's  cavalry 
is  at  Macon.  Rebel  earthworks  are  completed  and  guns  mounted. 
They  have  been  at  work  all  day.  They  are  afraid  of  something. 


August  2,  more  men  brought  in.  They  were  taken  near  Macon. 
They  were  under  Stoneman.  They  were  making  for  Andersonville,  but 
they  were  repulsed. 

************** 

August  9,  a  very  heavy  shower  this  afternoon.  It  washed  away 
a  part  of  the  stockade,  but  there  was  no  chance  to  escape,  as  they  had 


338  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

their  men  out  at  once  and  artillery  in  position,  and  actually  fired  two 
shots  over  the  camp  to  let  us  know  they  were  out  and  ready  for  us. 

August  10,  they  have  been  repairing  the  stockade,  but  their  labor 
was  in  vain.  Another  shower  undid  it  all,  and  a  little  more. 

They  have  issued  beans  to-day,  the  first  in  a  long  time.  But  as  we 
have  no  wood  to  cook  with,  we  have  to  eat  them  raw. 

************** 

August  12,  within  the  last  eight  days  one  thousand  men  have  died. 
Three  hundred  sixty  were  lying  dead  outside  the  gate  this  morning. 
Saw  one  poor  man  so  covered  with  vermin  that  one  could  scarcely 
see  his  clothes. 

August  18,  lumber  brought  in  for  barracks;  each  detachment  is  to 
build  its  own. 

************** 

September  6,  all  the  detachments  from  i  up  to  18  ordered  to  be 
in  readiness  to  move  out. 

September  7,  five  detachments  have  gone,  and  all  the  sick  who 
were  able  to  move  from  the  hospital.  Some  think  they  are  going  to 
our  lines,  and  some  to  another  prison.  It  is  rumored  that  Hood's  army 
is  beaten,  and  that  Atlanta  is  in  our  possession. 

September  8,  several  detachments  went  in  the  night.  They  may 
.go  to  many  better  places,  but  it  is  hardly  possible  for  them  to  get 

into  a  worse  one. 

************** 

September  n,  under  orders  to  go  9  p.m.  Find  myself  on  the  cars 
going  toward  Macon. 

September  12,  reached  the  junction  of  the  Savannah  and  Charles 
ton  railroad  this  morning.  Reached  Charleston  at  3  p.m.  Marched 
to  the  Fair  Grounds  just  outside  the  city.  The  sea  breeze  is  refreshing. 


September  14,  no  rations  to-day,  as  they  are  trying  to  get  men  to 
go  out  and  work  for  them  by  offering  them  all  they  want  to  eat  and 
plenty  of  tobacco. 

September  15,  only  two  crackers  to-day.  They  mean  to  starve  us 
out  and  then  offer  us  the  oath. 

September  16,  they  give  us  raw  rations,  and  very  scanty  at  that. 

September  17,  our  guns  on  the  gunboats  were  at  work  all  night. 
It  is  sport  to  see  those  large  shells  burst  over  the  city. 

September  18,  Sunday  morning.  How  nice  it  would  seem  to  be  at 
home  and  going  to  church.  Looks  like  storming  and  our  shelters  are 

of  the  poorest  kind,  in  fact  useless. 

************** 

September  23,  our  gunboats  continue  to  throw  their  shells  into  the 


CHARLES  R.  PETERSON'S  PRISON  DIARY.  339 

city.     Can  hear  them  crash  through  the  buildings  and  then  burst.    They 
must  make  sad  havoc. 


************** 

September  26,  heavy  firing  all  night.  Would  not  be  a  resident  of 
Charleston  for  anything.  Must  be  hard  for  the  women. 

************** 

October  I,  fifteen  hundred  men  left  camp  this  morning;  report 
says  to  Florence,  and  that  all  will  go  soon. 

October  6,  two  thousand  more  go  this  morning.  Find  myself  in 
the  lot.  Bring  up  at  Florence,  a  hundred  miles  north  of  Charleston. 
Cold.  Kept  out  in  the  rain  all  night  without  shelter. 

October  7,  our  eyes  are  greeted  this  morning  by  the  sight  of  an 
other  stockade.  However,  some  of  our  boys  are  here  who  have  suffi 
cient  shelter  for  us  all  in  the  shape  of  a  shanty  built  of  boughs  and  mud. 

October  10,  very  cold  and  frosty.     Terrible  for  those  who  have  no 
shelter,  and  there  are  many  such.     Don't  see  how  men  can  endure  it. 
************** 

October  12,  raw  rations,  meal,  beans,  sometimes  molasses;  no 
meat. 

October  16,  no  rations,  and,  of  course,  nothing  to  eat. 
October  17,  half  rations. 

************** 
October  22,  they  are  giving  out  sanitary  clothing,  shirts,  drawers, 
stockings,  to  those  who  are  the  most  destitute. 

************** 
November  7,  many  are  going  out  on  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
C.  S.  They  do  this  to  save  their  lives.  They  would  die  if  they  stayed 
in  this  pen,  as  they  have  no  shelter,  no  clothes,  or  boots  or  hats,  and 
the  wind  blowing  hard  from  the  northwest  every  night,  as  it  is  at 
the  present  time. 

************** 

November  8,  quite  an  excitement  in  camp  to-day,  holding  elec 
tion.  Lincoln  seems  to  be  the  choice.  The  rebels  go  for  McClellan, 
as  they  seem  to  think  he  would  give  them  all  they  want.  The  votes 
have  been  counted — about  3,500  for  Lincoln  and  1,600  for  McClellan. 
************** 

November  18,  they  are  sending  in  some  of  those  who  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance.  This  is  a  hard  piece  of  business.  Some  of  Com 
pany  B  men  were  asked  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  Their  answer 
was :  "We'll  die  first." 


340  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

November  20,  raining  all  day  and  no  rations.  They  say  they  will 
give  us  no  more  rations  until  some  one  tells  where  the  tunnels  are.  It 
is  not  right  to  starve  us  all  for  the  doings  of,  may  be,  two  or  three  men. 

November  21,  storm  still  continues  and  no  rations.  Begin  to  feel 
faint. 

November  22,  cold  and  freezing.  The  wind  cuts  terribly,  with 
nothing  in  you  to  produce  warmth.  Twenty-two  men  froze  to  death 
last  night. 

November  23-26,  Scanty  rations.  Very  cold.  They  are  parolling 
the  sick. 


November  29,  the  sick  of  the  first,  second  and  third  thousands  have 
been  picked  out  and  sent  away. 


December    5,    eight   hundred    more   taken    out   to-day.     Could    not 
get  away  with  them.     May  be  I  will  in  the  next  lot. 


December  9,  they  have  taken  out  all  the  sick,  and  I  am  left  be 
hind.  Received  a  letter  from  home  to-day.  It  did  me  good.  It  was 
four  months  on  the  way. 

December  14,  one  thousand  more  taken  out  to-day.  They  are  the 
last — no  more  to  go  at  present.  This  makes  us  feel  bad.  We  were 
in  hopes  it  was  a  general  exchange. 


December  21,  cold  and  stormy.     Very  hard  work  to  keep  life  in 
the  body  this  severe  weather.     Well,  it  can't  last  forever. 


December  25,  Christmas.  What  a  place  to  observe  it  in.  Not 
much  like  home.  Very  cold  and  frosty  this  morning.  Had  a  fine 
breakfast  of  mush  and  dumplings.  Will  have  the  same  for  supper. 
It  was  the  best  we  could  get.  There  is  no  good  in  murmuring.  That 
would  only  make  matters  worse.  It  is  best  to  feel  contented  as  pos 
sible,  and  not  fret  over  it.  Some  of  those  who  have  taken  the  oath 
and  have  been  sent  in  are  the  most  abject  looking  of  men. 

December  26  to  January  I,  cold  and  clear.  Many  are  sick  with  a 
species  of  fever.  The  doctors  pronounce  it  typhoid.  In  many  cases  it 
assumes  a  malignant  form,  and  then  the  patient  lives  but  a  short  time 
— not  more  than  three  days.  No  doubt  the  cause  is  the  locality  and 
the  poor  water  that  the  men  are  compelled  to  use.  The  guards  have 
filled  up  all  the  wells  and  we  have  nothing  to  use  but  brook  water 


CHARLES  R.  PETERSON'S  PRISON  DIARY.  341 

which  is  not  fit  to  use.     My  health  is  not  good.     I  am  troubled  with 
pains  in  my  bones  and  other  symptoms  of  fever. 

************** 
February  15,  my  symptoms  grew  worse  until  I  was  sick  enough. 
My  appetite  left  me  so  that  I  could  eat  nothing.  My  case  began  to 
look  desperate,  but  I  did  not  despair.  I  was  in  this  condition  about 
fourteen  days  when  a  change  for  the  better  took  place.  My  appetite 
returned  and  very  slowly  my  strength  and  flesh  came  back  to  me,  but 
it  was  a  long  time  before  I  could  move  around  with  anything  like  my 
usual  vigor.  I  am  thankful  to  God  that  my  life  has  been  spared. 
Many  of  my  acquaintances  and  friends  have  died.  One  of  my  com 
pany  and  an  old  tent  mate  has  died.  Another  is  very  sick  and  not 
likely  to  recover.  I  have  been  doing  all  I  could  for  them  since  getting 
well  enough  to  walk.  If  one  gets  too  far  gone  there  is  little  use  in 
trying  to  bring  him  up  again.  We  have  nothing  but  corn  meal  to  live 
on,  and  that  is  not  very  palatable  to  a  sick  man.  We  do  the  best  we 
can  and  try  not  to  get  discouraged.  The  number  of  sick  men  in  this 
camp  is  beyond  belief.  There  is  not  a  healthy  looking  man  in  the 
camp.  Some  are  only  walking  skeletons.  There  is  a  general  look 
of  fear  on  the  faces  of  all.  It  is  a  reign  of  terror.  If  my  life  is 
spared  through  this  I  hope  I  may  never  be  obliged  to  witness  such 
scenes  again.  Many  of  the  sick  get  no  help  from  the  rebel  doctors. 
The  doctors  don't  seem  to  care  for  the  Yankees.  In  fact,  their  design 
seems  to  be  to  kill  off  as  many  of  us  as  they  can.  One  of  the  doctors, 
a  Scotchman,  told  one  of  the  boys  that  they  were  going  to  move  us 
soon  to  some  better  place,  and  that  if  they  did  not  there  would  not 
be  a  man  alive  by  the  ist  of  April.  Our  old  mess  of  twenty-five  now 
numbers  only  eleven. 

************** 

February  17,  they  have  been  moving  some  of  the  men.  Those  who 
are  able  to  walk  are  compelled  to  go.  The  sick  are  left  behind.  Warm 
and  pleasant.  It  would  be  pleasant  riding  on  the  cars,  only  we  are 
too  crowded.  Reach  Wilmington  in  the  night.  Do  not  stop,  but  pass 
on  to  Goldsborough.  Then  started  back  toward  Wilmington. 
************** 

February  19,  they  ran  us  out  ten  miles  and  left  us  in  the  woods. 
We  can  hear  the  big  guns  at  Wilmington.  Our  men  have  taken  Wil 
mington,  and  the  rebels  are  moving  us  up  toward  Goldsborough,  out 
of  the  way. 

************** 

February  27,  we  were  delivered  this  morning  to  our  officers  at 
N.  E.  station,  ten  miles  above  Wilmington.  Our  joy  at  being  once 


342  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

more  in  the  realm  of  civilization  and  humanity  was  unbounded.  The 
men  gave  cheers  and  expressed  themselves  in  every  way  they  could 
think  of.  *  *  *  After  marching  two  miles  we  were  formed  in  com 
panies,  and  rations  of  hard  bread,  cooked  fresh  beef  and  a  cup  of  coffee 
given  to  each  man.  With  gusto  those  half- famished  men  devoured  the 
rations  given  them.  You  should  have  seen  the  smiles  of  contentment 
on  their  faces,  as  if  all  trouble  was  past  and  they  were  once  more  in 
God's  country.  But  how  about  the  sick  left  at  Florence? 

************** 

March  2,  shipped  to-day  for  Annapolis.  The  ride  down  the  bay, 
some  twenty  miles,  was  pleasant,  but  when  the  boat  got  out  on  the 
ocean  the  men  began  to  get  sea  sick,  and  such  a  time  you  never  saw.  I 
was  sick  only  a  short  time,  and  then  felt  better  than  ever. 

************** 

March  5,  landed  at  Annapolis  this  morning.  Met  some  old  friends. 
Soon  had  on  clean,  whole  clothes,  and  felt  like  a  new  man — Like  a  tran 
sition  from  a  living  death  to  life ! 

Sergeant  Peterson  died  at  East  Lake,  Lake  County, 
California,  of  pneumonia,  March  25,  1880.  He  had  three 
brothers  in  the  army.  Lieutenant  Pierson  B.  Peterson  of 
the  78th  New  York  was  mortally  wounded  at  Antietam. 
Doctors  Orton  W.,  and  Wilson  Peterson  were  field  and 
hospital  surgeons. 


CHAPTER  XXXII.  ; 

NEW  MARKET. 

IN  BoycTs  force  were  details  from  all  the  companies  ex 
cept  F  and  M.  These  had  been  detached  for  special 
service  at  Sigel's  headquarters.  Boyd  himself,  after  his 
disaster  at  New  Market  Gap,  went  back  to  his  own  regi 
ment,  the  Twenty-first  Pennsylvania,  at  Chambersburg. 
A  detachment  made  up  from  the  rest  of  the  regiment 
under  Captain  Martindale  was  on  its  way  from  Winchester 
toward  Berryville.  The  Goublemans,  White  and  Warren 
were  the  advance.  At  the  toll  gate  at  the  Opequon  three 
of  them  stopped  to  get  a  drink  of  milk.  Warren  went  on 
alone  on  foot  leading  his  horse.  Here  there  was  a  hollow 
in  the  road,  and  half  a  mile  farther  on  was  a  hill.  A 
mounted  man  in  blue  suddenly  appeared  on  the  hill  and 
called  to  Warren:  "Come  up  here  and  surrender!"  The 
challenger  was  pointing  his  pistol  at  Warren.  The  latter, 
thinking  he  might  be  shot  in  the  act  of  mounting  his  horse, 
delayed  until  his  comrades  could  come  up.  Each  took  the 
other  for  a  rebel.  Warren  called  out:  "What  command 
do  you  belong  to?  I  belong  to  the  First  New  York."  The 
other  said :  "It  makes  no  difference  what  you  belong  to, 
you  come  up  here  and  surrender."  Warren  replied:  "If 
you  want  me  come  and  get  me."  Seeing  that  the  stranger 
was  getting  excited  and  was  waving  his  hand  to  some  one 
behind  him  to  come  up,  he  took  advantage  of  this  mo- 

343 


344  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

mentary  diversion  of  his  adversary's  attention,  and  mounted 
his  horse.  Just  then  the  other  three  of  the  advance  joined 
him,  and  all  four  went  up  the  hill  on  the  run,  while  the 
stranger  turned  and  fled  down  the  other  side  of  the  hill.  For 
a  few  seconds  they  saw  only  the  one  mounted  man.  Then 
such  a  sight  struck  them  as  they  had  not  expected.  Five 
or  six  hundred  uniformed  men  were  throwing  their  knap 
sacks  over  the  fence,  and  two  companies  had  formed  line 
across  the  pike.  Just  at  this  moment  they  noticed  the 
mounted  man  fall  off  his  horse,  the  girth  having  broken,  as 
was  afterward  learned.  The  two  companies  opened  fire  on 
the  four  men  who  were  coming  down  the  hill  at  a  rapid  rate. 
There  was  a  fence  on  each  side  of  the  road.  They  could 
not  turn  off  nor  turn  back.  The  bullets  were  pouring 
around  them  like  hail.  They  had  to  keep  on  until  they  were 
close  to  the  others,  where  the  fence  on  the  right  ended. 
Here  they  turned  into  a  small  piece  of  woods,  ran  through 
and  around  it,  jumped  the  fence,  and  came  back  to  the  top 
of  the  hill.  When  entering  the  woods  Harry  Goubleman 
said:  "I  believe  they  are  our  own  men."  Ed  said:  "I 
don't  care  who  they  are.  I  am  not  going  to  let  them  fire  at 
me  for  nothing,"  and  let  go  at  them.  He  hit  one  of  them 
under  the  eye.  After  getting  back  on  the  hill  the  four  men 
waited  until  the  detachment  came  up,  with  Martindale  in 
command.  He  saw  what  the  matter  was.  The  strange 
men  were  colored  troops.  Our  men  had  never  seen  any  be 
fore,  and  were  puzzled  by  their  appearance.  Martindale 
sent  a  messenger  with  a  handkerchief  on  a  sabre.  When 
the  major  commanding  them  saw  that  he  was  safe,  he  be 
gan  to  abuse  Warren  for  not  coming  up  and  surrendering. 
Warren  said:  'T  told  you  what  command  I  belonged  to, 
and  asked  you  the  same  question.  As  you  refused  to  an 
swer,  I  supposed  you  were  one  of  Mosby's  men,  as  there 
are  so  many  of  them  around  with  our  uniform  on."  This 


NEW  MARKET.  345 

did  not  quiet  him.  He  continued  to  abuse  Warren,  when 
Martindale  asked:  "What  rank  do  you  hold?"  He  re 
plied  that  he  was  a  major  in  command  of  the  colored  de 
tachment.  Martindale  replied:  "Well,  if  you  don't  shut 
up  I  will  turn  my  regiment  on  you  and  kill  every  nigger  you 
have  here."  He  "shut  up"  instantly.  The  white  major 
showed  less  discretion  than  his  colored  troops. 

It  was  while  waiting  at  Winchester  that  Sigel  had  sent 
Boyd  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  up  the  Luray  valley,  for 
the  purpose  of  guarding  against  an  attack  on  his  left  flank. 
At  about  the  same  time  he  sent  Col.  Jacob  Higgins  with  500 
cavalry  among  the  mountains  to  guard  against  an  attack  on 
his  right.  May  Qth,  this  force  was  met  and  defeated  be 
tween  Moorefield  and  Wardensville  by  a  detachment  of  Im- 
boden's  brigade,  and  driven  back  to  Romney. 

Sigel  moved  the  greater  part  of  his  army  to  Cedar 
Creek,  eighteen  miles  from  Winchester.  His  cavalry  re 
ported  no  force  in  the  upper  Valley  except  about  3,000  men 
under  Imboden.  and  these  in  scattered  detachments.  Sigel 
had  in  all  about  6,500. 

The  loth,  the  cavalry  advanced  to  Woodstock,  fourteen 
miles,  driving  some  Confederates  out  of  the  place,  and  cap 
turing  some  telegraphic  dispatches.  From  these  it  was 
learned  that  General  Breckinridge  was  at  Dublin  station  the 
5th,  preparing  to  move  with  4,000  men.  In  another  dis 
patch  he  was  anxiously  inquiring  if  there  was  any  move 
ment  from  this  direction  toward  Grant's  army.  On  the 
1 2th,  he  was  at  Staunton.  When  Sigel  reached  Woodstock 
Imboden  was  a  short  distance  south  of  New  Market,  wait 
ing  for  Sigel  from  the  north  and  for  Breckinridge  from 
the  south. 

New  Market  was  then  a  place  of  about  1,000  people. 
It  was  about  twenty  miles  south  of  Woodstock.  Eleven 
miles  from  Woodstock  was  Mt.  Jackson.  Four  miles  south 


346  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  Mt.  Jackson  the  North  Fork  flows  east  at  the  base  of 
quite  a  prominent  bluff.  Here  was  a  bridge.  Beyond  the 
bridge  the  pike  for  a  mile  or  more  crossed  the  Meem  bot 
toms,  a  wide,  low  plain.  Beyond  these  bottoms  was  Rude's 
Hill,  about  eighty  feet  high,  presenting  a  bold  front  extend 
ing  east  and  west  on  both  sides  of  the  pike  for  a  consider 
able  distance.  Four  miles  from  Rude's  Hill,  beyond  a  high 
and  gently  rolling  country,  was  New  Market,  about  midway 
between  the  river  on  the  west  and  Smith's  creek  on  the  east 
and  about  a  mile  from  each. 

The  1 3th,  parts  of  Troops  F  and  M,  twenty-eight  men 
in  all,  under  Lieutenants  Lewis  and  O'Brien,  were  sent  from 
Woodstock  to  Columbia  Furnace,  ten  miles  to  the  south 
west,  reported  to  be  occupied  in  force  by  the  enemy.  They 
moved  carefully,  and  for  the  purpose  of  better  concealing 
their  approach,  they  abandoned  the  road  and  moved  through 
the  fields  along  the  river  bank.  So  successful  were  they 
that  the  advance,  C.  T.  Williamson  of  F,  and  John.  Trevor 
of  M,  unwittingly  passed  the  enemy's  videttes  on  the  road 
before  they  were  noticed  and  fired  on.  These  two  men  im 
mediately  spurred  their  horses  in  the  direction  of  the  road 
in  order  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  fleeing  videttes.  In 
this  attempt  they  were  foiled  by  the  precipitous  descent  from 
the  field  to  the  road,  which  was  so  steep  at  that  point  that 
it  was  necessary  to  dismount  in  order  to  get  down  into  the 
road.  The  check  caused  by  reining  in  the  horses  enabled  the 
videttes  to  get  past  our  advance  and  escape  for  the  time. 
One  of  the  advance  now  dismounted  and  led  his  horse  down 
the  bank.  The  other,  noticing  that  the  descent  was  much 
easier  a  few  rods  back  on  the  road,  and  realizing  that  the 
charge  of  the  main  body  would  be  checked  by  that  steep 
bank,  rode  quickly  back  along  the  road  until  he  came  to  an 
easy  descent.  Here  he  directed  the  main  body,  now  com 
ing  on  a  full  gallop,  jumped  his  horse  over  the  fence  into 


NEW  MARKET.  347 

the  road,  and  reached  his  comrade  who  had  dismounted  just 
as  he  swung  himself  into  the  saddle  again,  and  together 
they  raced  pell  mell  after  the  fleeing  videttes  to  the  ford  at 
Columbia  Furnace,  not  much  more  than  one  hundred  yards 
away,  which  they  reached  before  the  others  had  succeeded 
in  crossing  to  the  other  side.  Directly  across  the  river  they 
noticed  a  long  line  of  horses  tied  to  a  fence  in  front  of  a 
house  out  of  which  which  were  rushing  a  number  of  the 
enemy,  about  equal  to  our  party.  Some  of  them  were  shoot 
ing,  but  the  most  of  them  were  intent  only  on  getting  away. 

The  water  was  about  belly  deep,  but  Lewis  and  his  men 
pushed  their  horses  into  it,  and  succeeded  in  getting  across 
before  more  than  half  a  dozen  of  the  enemy  had  been  able 
to  mount.  In  emphatic  terms  they  were  calling  upon  the 
enemy  to  surrender.  The  best  mounted,  without  stopping, 
kept  on  after  those  who  had  succeeded  in  getting  mounted, 
the  most  of  whom  were  captured. 

Among  those  who  kept  on  after  the  fugitives  was  Will 
iamson.  A  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  Furnace  the  road 
divided.  Williamson  took  the  left  fork  where  only  one  of 
the  fugitives  had  gone,  leaving  the  other  road  to  be  taken 
care  of  by  the  rest  as  they  should  come  up.  Before  he  had 
gone  a  mile  the  Confederate's  horse  gave  out.  Seeing  that 
he  would  soon  be  overtaken,  he  reined  his  horse  aside, 
jumped  off,  and  left  him.  He  climbed  over  the  fence  into 
some  woods  that  skirted  the  road.  His  pursuer  followed 
him,  but  was  delayed  a  little  in  getting  over  the  fence,  and  so 
lost  sight  of  him.  He  rode  rapidly  through  the  woods  until 
he  came  to  a  farm  house  surrounded  by  cleared  fields.  He 
knew  that  his  man  had  not  had  time  to  cross  the  fields,  and 
as  there  was  no  other  shelter  than  the  house,  he  was  sure 
that  the  enemy  must  have  hidden  here.  The  farmer  and 
his  wife  both  stoutly  denied  that  he  was  in  the  house.  Will 
iamson  was  all  alone,  and  naturally  hesitated  about  getting 


348  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

off  his  horse  to  search  the  house.  While  he  was  consider 
ing  what  to  do,  Sergeant  John  Cummings  of  Co.  F  rode 
up.  After  deliberating  a  few  seconds,  the  sergeant,  per 
haps  as  a  moral  support  to  the  other,  shouted  in  a  loud  voice : 
"I  order  you  to  search  the  house."  Williamson  went 
through  the  house  carefully,  but  could  see  no  sign  of  the 
man  he  was  after.  Finally  he  noticed,  up  stairs,  a  covered 
square  opening  into  the  attic.  He  stood  on  the  railing 
around  the  stairway,  pushed  aside  the  board  and  was  able, 
standing  on  tip  toe,  to  lift  his  head  through  the  opening. 
There  in  the  attic  was  the  man  he  had  been  searching  for. 
To  add  emphasis  to  his  demand  he  covered  him  with  his 
revolver  and  commanded:  "Come  down  out  of  there!" 
He  came  down  willingly.  He  was  Lieutenant  Reilly  of  a 
battalion  of  Maryland  cavalry,  who  had  commanded  the 
outpost. 

On  the  way  back  to  the  Furnace  he  deplored  his  bad 
luck,  and  expressed  the  opinion  that  if  he  only  could  get  a 
good  drink  of  whisky  he  would  be  better  able  to  bear  up 
under  his  misfortunes.  His  captor  told  him  that  if  he  would 
only  direct  him  where  to  find  it  he  would  get  him  some. 

At  the  Furnace  they  found  that  Lewis'  men  had  rounded 
up  almost  as  many  prisoners  as  there  were  men  in  their 
own  number.  There  were  twenty-two  of  them.  These 
they  had  shut  up  in  a  corncrib  where  there  was  standing 
room  only  for  them,  while  the  captors  were  making  coffee 
for  themselves.  The  lieutenant  was  put  into  the  corncrib 
with  the  rest,  while  his  captor,  provided  with  a  written  order 
and  explicit  directions  as  to  the  house,  started  out  with  the 
lieutenant's  canteen  to  get  the  whisky.  The  man  to  whom 
he  had  been  directed,  when  asked  for  whisky,  denied  having 
any.  But  when  shown  the  written  order  of  Reilly  he 
brought  out  a  large  jug  and  funnel,  and  filled  Reilly's  can 
teen.  When  asked  to  fill  a  second  canteen  he  refused  to 


NEW  MARKET.  349 

do  so,  although  offered  pay  for  it.  Whereupon  the  Union 
soldier,  on  the  ground  that  it  had  never  paid  any  revenue 
tax,  confiscated  the  whisky  and  the  jug.  Friend  and  foe 
shared  alike.  Reilly  was  a  good  fellow,  and  he  and  his 
men  expressed  their  appreciation  of  their  captors'  mag 
nanimity.  A  more  friendly  lot  of  enemies  was  never  seen 
than  these  captors  and  their  hilarious  captives  on  the  way 
back  to  Woodstock,  where  long  after  dark  they  arrived  in 
safety. 

The  1 3th,  Sigel  sent  from  Woodstock  two  regiments 
of  infantry  under  Col.  Moor,  and  500  of  the  First  cavalry 
under  Major  Quinn.  The  I4th,  these  forces  encountered 
the  enemy  at  Mt.  Jackson,  and  drove  them  across  the  bridge, 
across  the  Meem  bottoms,  and  beyond  Rude's  Hill  even  to 
New  Market. 

Encouraged  by  the  report  of  this  success,  Sigel  decided 
to  move  forward  at  five  o'clock  the  next  morning.  But 
there  was  some  delay,  and  it  was  ten  when  the  column 
reached  Mt.  Jackson.  Here  was  a  good  defensive  position, 
and  it  occurred  to  Sigel  to  wait  here  and  receive  the  attack 
of  the  enemy.  But  good  reports  came  from  General  Stahel 
and  Colonel  Moor  who  were  on  the  high  ground  near  New 
Market.  With  Companies  F  and  M  of  the  First  cavalry 
as  his  escort,  Sigel  rode  forward  to  examine  the  ground. 
He  rode  all  the  way  to  New  Market.  From  what  informa 
tion  he  could  gain  he  estimated  the  enemy's  force  about  equal 
to  his  own,  but  not  all  on  the  ground.  The  action  of  the 
day  before  had  been  in  his  favor.  His  men  were  in  good 
spirits.  He  thought  the  chances  were  favorable  if  he 
should  risk  a  general  engagement. 

He  ordered  the  forces  at  Mt.  Jackson  to  move  for 
ward.  But  thinking  the  position  of  Col.  Moor,  just  out 
side  the  village,  not  the  most  advantageous,  he  directed  that 
officer  to  fall  back  to  higher  ground  about  three-fourths  of 


350  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

a  mile  farther  north.  Here  Sigel  formed  his  line  with  ex 
cellent  judgment.  But  he  was  deceived  in  that  two  regi 
ments  did  not  come  up  to  the  position  in  time. 

In  the  withdrawal  the  enemy  was  ready  to  follow. 
Captain  Battersby  with  a  detachment  deployed  covered  the 
withdrawal.  His  falling  back  encouraged  the  enemy,  who 
formed  their  advanced  line  with  skill.  As  Imboden  says, 
they  worked  their  guns  ufor  all  they  were  worth."  The 
village  lay  in  a  slight  depression  so  that  the  shots  from  the 
opposing  lines  passed  over  the  place. 

On  his  way  Breckinridge  had  called  on  all  the  forces 
within  reach.  The  "reserves"  from  Augusta  and  Rocking- 
ham  counties,  peaceable,  non-combatant  citizens,  staying  at 
their  homes  except  in  an  emergency  such  as  this,  were  called 
out.  The  cadets  in  Lexington  Military  Institute,  boys  from 
sixteen  to  eighteen  years  of  age,  to  the  number  of  two  hun 
dred  and  twenty-five,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ship,  one  of  the 
professors,  were  brought  along.  They  readily  responded 
and  were  assigned  a  place  in  the  fore  front,  west  of  the  pike. 

The  battle  was  well  fought  on  both  sides.  Imboden 
himself  reached  a  favorable  position  in  advance  of  the  ex 
treme  right  of  the  Confederate  line,  and  with  well-man 
aged  guns  disturbed  the  cavalry  massed  in  the  rear  of  Sigel's 
extreme  left.  The  enemy  also  advanced  with  courage  upon 
Sigel's  right.  One  of  the  Union  batteries  west  of  the  pike 
was  doing  such  execution  that  Breckinridge  determined  to 
dislodge  or  capture  it.  It  was  directly  in  front  of  Col. 
Smith's  Sixty-second  Virginia  and  the  cadet  corps.  To  Col. 
Smith  and  Col.  Ship,  Breckinridge  gave  the  order  to  charge 
for  those  guns.  They  started  at  once.  About  three  hun 
dred  yards  in  front  of  the  battery  was  a  gulch,  full  of  scrub 
trees,  stumps  and  rocks.  The  men  suffered  from  the  fire  of 
the  battery  before  reaching  the  gulch.  Here  they  were  par 
tially  protected.  But  their  business  was  to  take  that  battery. 


NEW  MARKET.  351 

The  boys  were  a  little  quicker  than  the  men  of  the  Sixty- 
second  in  getting  out  of  the  gulch.  They  kept  their  forma 
tion  on  the  bank  until  the  Sixty-second  was  ready.  Then 
all  together  they  started  on  the  "double  quick"  for  the  guns, 
and  captured  them  and  the  gunners.  "A  wild  yell  went  up 
when  a  cadet  mounted  a  caisson  and  waved  the  Institute  flag 
in  triumph  over  it."  Of  the  cadets  eight  were  killed  and 
forty-six  wounded.  Of  the  five  hundred  and  fifty  of  the 
Sixty-second,  two  hundred  and  forty-one  were  killed  or 
wounded. 

Lieut.  Col.  W.  S.  Lincoln,  of  the  Thirty- fourth  Massa 
chusetts,  who  was  supporting  the  battery,  was  severely 
wounded  and  caught  under  his  horse,  which  was  killed.  Even 
in  that  condition,  Imboden  states,  Lincoln  tried  to  use  his 
pistol,  and  desisted  only  when  a  cadet  threatened  to  bayonet 
him. 

It  has  been  stated  that  one  of  the  gunners,  watching 
those  young  cadets  coming  up  so  gallantly  on  the  charge, 
had  not  the  heart  to  fire  upon  them.  But  the  fearful  losses 
in  the  charging  lines  prove  that  the  guns  were  well  served. 

Sigel  trieid  to  maintain  his  position  by  a  counter  charge. 
But  this  was  received  with  a  destructive  fire,  and  the  line 
forced  back.  The  left  had  given  way  and  the  whole  line 
became  untenable. 

The  Union  forces  engaged  numbered  5,150  and  22 
guns.  The  losses  were  93  killed,  552  wounded,  and  186 
captured — 831.  The  Confederates  engaged  were  about 
5,000.  Their  losses  were  42  killed,  522  wounded  and  13 
missing— 577. 

On  the  whole,  in  this  battle  Sigel  was  out-generaled 
and  out-fought.  He  retired  to  Rude's  Hill  where  the  regi 
ments  that  had  not  come  to  the  battle,  had  formed  line.  The 
entire  force  then  fell  back  in  the  rain  to  Mt.  Jackson,  Cap 
tain  Battersby  covering  the  rear.  Here  the  men  halted  for 


352  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

a  couple  of  hours,  looked  to  the  wounded  as  well  as  they 
could,  counted  the  missing,  and  resuming  their  night  march, 
reached  Edinburg  at  seven  the  morning  of  the  i6th.  At 
five  in  the  evening  they  reached  Strasburg.  The  morning 
of  the  1 7th,  the  army  crossed  Cedar  Creek  and  rested  in  its 
former  camp. 

The  2  ist,  General  Sigel  was  removed  from  command, 
and  General  David  Hunter  appointed  in  his  place.  Lt. 
Col.  Adams  had  acted  as  chief  of  staff  to  Sigel  during  this 
unfortunate  campaign.  The  23rd,  with  a  part  of  the  regi 
ment  as  escort,  he  accompanied  the  deposed  general  to 
Martinsburg. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
UP  THE  VALLEY :     PIEDMONT. 

GENERAL  Hunter  was  a  man  of  dark,  stern  appear 
ance,  and  prompt  manner.  Prominent  families  of 
the  name,  relatives,  were  living  here  and  there  in  the  Valley. 
But  he  spared  no  rebels  "for  relation's  sake." 

His  chief  of  staff  was  Colonel  David  Hunter  Strother, 
of  Bath,  the  "Porte  Crayon"  of  so  many  illustrated  sketches 
of  Virginia;  a  very  genial  man.  His  A.  A.  A.  G.  was 
Charles  G.  Halpine,  "Private  Miles  O'Reilly,"  who  in  the 
busiest  campaigns  found  time  to  write  his  entertaining 
poems. 

The  First  cavalry,  under  Major  Quinn,  was  kept  near 
headquarters  ready  for  special  service.  Company  F  was 
detached  as  the  general's  escort.  Major  Harkins  was  made 
provost  marshal  of  the  entire  command.  Captain  Alexan 
der  was  made  chief  quartermaster. 

At  dress  parade  on  the  25th,  various  orders  were  read. 
Some  officers  were  dismissed  from  the  service  for  allowing 
a  picket  post  to  be  surprised.  The  command  would  march 
at  8 130  the  next  morning. 

At  8 130  the  next  morning  the  march  began.  The  en 
tire  force  was  about  fifteen  thousand.  An  empty  wagon 
train  was  started  back.  Some  houses  from  which  a  wagon 
train  had  been  fired  upon  were  burned.  Notice  was  given 
that  if  wagon  trains  should  be  attacked,  the  town  nearest  the 
scene  of  such  attack  would  be  burned. 

358 


354  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

There  was  a  short  halt  on  Fisher's  Hill.  A  few  Con 
federates  were  ahead,  keeping  at  a  safe  distance. 

In  a  carriage  Mrs.  Henry  with  some  children  and  an 
attendant  was  on  her  way  north.  A  gallant  captain  with 
the  advance  detailed  a  trusty  cavalry  sergeant  to  act  as  guard 
and  protector  to  the  lady  and  her  party  until  General  Hunter 
should  come  along,  and  then  report  to  him.  The  lady  was 
sure  that  General  Hunter,  being  a  Virginian,  and  therefore 
a  chivalrous  gentleman,  would  give  her  a  special  escort  as 
far  as  his  "outmost  guard."  The  sergeant  reported  to  the 
adjutant  who  reported  to  the  general  who  simply  said,  "Let 
her  remain  where  she  is  till  we  get  past.  Then  let  her  go 
on  her  way.''  He  had  no  time  for  special  gallantry  on  this 
campaign. 

The  camping  place  for  the  night  was  at  Pugh's  creek, 
near  Woodstock,  in  the  vicinity  of  an  unfinished  house,  a 
night's  resting  place  during  the  fifteen  days'  scout  of  the 
previous  December. 

The  27th  and  28th,  the  army  lay  still.  Scouting  parties 
were  out  in  all  directions.  It  was  convenient  for  scouts  to 
go  out  in  Confederate  gray — convenient,  but  dangerous. 
It  was  easier  for  a  scout  going  thus  to  get  information,  but 
his  life  was  forfeited  if  he  should  be  taken.  But  Savacool, 
Warren,  the  Goublemans,  Forkey  and  Valentine  had  become 
experts.  There  was  plenty  for  them  to  do.  They  ran 
great  risks  without  seeming  to  mind  it.  Valentine  was  cut 
off  from  all  the  rest  and  so  closely  pressed  that  he  could 
only  escape  by  abandoning  his  horse  and  springing  into  the 
woods. 

The  work  of  these  scouts  was  rendered  all  the  more 
risky  because  of  orders  read  at  dress  parade  on  the  28th,  to 
appropriate  horses  and  other  needful  things  on  the  way. 
Foraging  was  necessary.  For  a  hearty  man  to  carry  ten 
days'  rations  was  an  impossibility. 


UP  THE  VALLEY:     PIEDMONT.  355 

This  morning  a  captain  of  the  regiment  was  put  un 
der  arrest  for  not  being  out  with  his  company  at  roll  call, 
and  there  was  no  sympathy  expressed  for  him. 

The  29th,  the  march  began  at  four  o'clock,  the  First 
cavalry  having  the  advance.  Bridges  had  been  torn  up. 
There  was  a  prospect  of  a  fight  at  Mt.  Jackson.  But  the 
enemy  fled  on  to  New  Market,  the  scene  of  the  battle  of 
the  1 5th.  There  were  the  graves  of  the  dead.  The  Union 
wounded  left  behind  had  been  well  cared  for  by  the  people. 

The  30th,  the  regiment  was  ordered  back  to  head- 
headquarters  at  Mt.  Jackson. 

The  3  ist,  two  hundred  of  the  regiment  under  Major 
Stearns  started  early  on  the  road  back.  Marched  steadily, 
halting  for  short  rests  at  Edenburg,  Woodstock  and  Stras- 
burg.  At  one  of  these  halts  a  man  of  Co.  L  was  shot.  A 
supposed  bushwhacker  was  arrested  and  charged  with  the 
act.  It  almost  came  to  the  point  of  hanging  him.  But  on 
further  examination  there  was  found  a  reasonable  doubt. 
The  man  was  probably  shot  accidentally,  and  the  arrested 
man  who  had  protested  his  innocence,  but  faced  his  threat 
ened  fate  bravely,  was  released. 

Bivouacked  on  StickeFs  farm  near  Newtown.  A 
wagon  train  had  been  captured  and  destroyed  by  Gilmore  at 
Newtown.  It  began  to  be  suspected  that  the  purpose  of 
this  expedition  was  to  burn  the  town.  There  were  mur- 
murings  of  disapproval.  Burning  houses  of  citizens  was 
not  the  business  of  soldiers. 

On  the  march  early  the  next  morning.  The  "appre 
hensions  of  the  object  of  this  move  were  confirmed  when 
silently,  and  more  like  a  funeral  procession  than  a  march 
ing  army,  the  column  moved  into  the  one  long  street  of  the 
town  and  halted.  The  old  people  and  children  were  stand 
ing  in  the  doorways  with  an  expression  of  mute  helplessness 
on  their  faces.  The  hearts  of  the  men  beat  with  more 


356  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

trepidation  than  when  going  into  battle.     Those  who  spoke 
did  so  to  express  their  purpose  to  obey  no  orders  to  burn. 

But  the  officers  had  consulted  together  and  decided  to 
disobey  the  order  of  General  Hunter. 

Some  conferences  with  the  citizens  were  held.  It  was 
found  that  Union  men  wounded  in  the  attack  on  the  train 
had  been  carefully  nursed  in  these  homes.  It  seemed  best 
to  have  the  people  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Union, 
and  spare  the  town.  The  officers  agreed  to  stand  by  Major 
Stearns  if  he  should  incur  the  wrath  of  General  Hunter. 

It  was  a  relief  to  all  when  the  column  headed  toward 
the  south  and  the  houses  in  the  town  still  standing. 

Gilmore,  in  his  "Four  Years  in  the  Saddle,"  states  that 
he  sent  word  to  Hunter,  that  he  had  a  number  of  prisoners 
in  his  hands,  and  that  for  every  house  burned  a  prisoner 
would  be  hanged.  He  attributes  the  saving  of  Newtown  to 
this  threat  of  his.  But  Major  Stearns  and  his  officers  knew 
nothing  of  this  threat  of  Gilmore' s.  They  had  made  up 
their  minds  before  reaching  Newtown,  that  they  would  not 
obey  the  orders  to  burn. 

On  the  return  march,  the  command  stopped  for  the 
night  at  Bushong's,  near  Woodstock.  There  were  some  ap 
prehensions  of  a  night  attack  from  Gilmore.  The  disaster 
to  Boyd's  command  and  the  defeat  at  New  Market  had  their 
effect  on  the  men.  They  were  preparing  to  sleep  with  their 
arms  at  hand,  and  were  discussing  plans  if  Gilmore  should 
come  upon  them  in  the  night.  But  Captain  Jones  moved 
quietly  around  among  the  men,  assuring  them  that  there 
was  no  likelihood  of  Gilmore' s  coming.  If  such  a  thing 
should  happen  they  were  to  keep  cool,  and  no  man  should 
mount  his  horse.  The  captain  did  a  good  service  here  in 
allaying  fears,  as  often  he  had  done  by  inspiring  courage  in 
a  fight.  He  was  an  officer  to  be  depended  on  at  all  times. 

The  2nd,  the  detachment  hurried  on  to  overtake  the 


UP  THE  VALLEY:     PIEDMONT.  357 

army.  McNeil  with  a  hundred  men  had  been  hanging  on 
around  the  rear  of  Hunter.  It  would  be  a  fine  thing  if  this 
detachment  could  capture  some  of  these  fellows.  Hunter 
might  accept  them  as  an  atonement  for  not  burning  New- 
town.  The  captain  who,  a  few  days  before,  had  shown 
such  conspicuous  gallantry  to  a  Virginia  lady,  and  who, 
another  day  was  under  arrest  for  not  being  out  with  his 
company  at  morning  roll  call,  started  out  in  charge  of  the 
advance.  It  was  considered  an  honor  and  a  privilege  to 
be  on  the  advance,  especially  at  such  a  time.  But  the  cap 
tain  was  lacking  in  the  skill  and  sharpness  necessary  to  catch 
those  lively  rebels,  and  the  company  was  recalled  from  the 
advance. 

In  the  boat  race  in  Virgil's  Trojan  games  an  unskillful 
pilot  lost  the  race.  The  crew  were  angry,  and  the  un 
fortunate  pilot  was  hurled  from  the  -boat  into  the  sea.  The 
men  of  that  company  were  so  incensed  at  their  losing  the 
advance  that  they  could  have  thrown  their  captain  in  the 
river  for  his  self-satisfied  inefficiency.  None  of  McNeil's 
men  were  caught  that  day.  Stopped  for  the  night  at  Mr. 
Cowan's,  six  miles  from  New  Market. 

The  3rd,  the  detachment  started  early  and  toward  even 
ing  overtook  the  rest  of  the  regiment  and  the  army  near 
Harrisonburg,  from  which  place  Imboden  had  been  driven 
with  some  loss.  The  advance  to-day  captured  two  of  Mc 
Neil's  men. 

Major  Stearns  was  uncertain  as  to  the  way  in  which 
his  report  would  be  received.  Possibly  he  and  all  his  offi 
cers  would  be  dismissed  from  the  service.  But,  putting  on 
as  bold  a  manner  as  possible,  he  approached  the  general, 
saluted  and  reported,  "General  Hunter,  I  am  the  officer  that 
was  ordered  to  burn  Newtown  and  didn't  do  it!"  Hunter 
seemed  somewhat  pleased  to  find  some  one  who  could  be 
almost  as  gruff  as  himself,  gave  a  good-natured  grunt,  and 


358  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

let  the  matter  pass  without  even  ordering  the  major  under 
arrest. 

This  was  Rockingham  county,  a  most  interesting 
region.  The  soil  is  very  fertile  with  outcrops  of  limestone. 
This  part  of  the  Valley  was  settled  a  few  years  before  the 
French  and  Indian  war,  mostly  by  Germans  from  Penn 
sylvania.  There  were  Quakers  among  those  that  came. 
Their  simple,  primitive,  industrious,  honest  ways  made  them 
a  prosperous,  highly  respected  people,  and  the  country  be 
came  known  for  its  abundant  harvests  and  growing  wealth. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  Lincoln's  ancestors  had 
migrated  from  Massachusetts  to  Pennsylvania,  and  then  to 
this  part  of  Virginia.  There  was  pointed  out  the  fine  resi 
dence  of  a  substantial  farmer  named  Lincoln,  said  to  be  a 
relative  of  the  President. 

Cyrus  McCormick  was  a  resident  of  this  county,  and 
here,  with  very  little  to  encourage  him,  he  labored  for  sev 
eral  years  in  perfecting  his  reaping  machine.  The  farmers 
in  the  vicinity  had  no  faith  in  his  invention — the  greatest 
labor-saving  invention  of  modern  times. 

It  was  necessary  from  this  time  on  for  Hunter's  men 
to  live  largely  on  the  country.  But  with  this  foraging,  it  is 
believed  there  was  no  wanton  wasting  of  private  property, 
and  no  act  of  cruelty  toward  the  people. 

One  of  the  conservative  officers  whose  policy  seemed 
always  to  be  to  cultivate  friendly  relations  with  the  enemy, 
had  always  tried  to  be  very  strict  in  restraining  his  men 
from  foraging.  There  were  times  on  this  trip  when  he 
was  allowed  to  suffer.  One  morning  it  was  supposed  that 
the  command  was  drawing  near  to  the  enemy.  It  was  hur 
ried  forward  towrard  the  supposed  position  of  the  hostile 
forces.  The  enemy  had  retired  and  the  regiment  was  al 
lowed  to  halt.  The  men  were  allowed  to  dismount,  but 
were  ordered  to  stand  to  horse,  ready  to  mount  and  go  into 


UP  THE  VALLEY:     PIEDMONT.  359 

the  fight  at  an  instant's  notice.  It  was  the  first  leisure  the 
men  had  had  to  pick  up  a  breakfast  from  what  was  left  in 
their  haversacks  from  the  night  before.  The  most  of  them, 
while  standing  there,  had  made  out  a  very  comfortable 
breakfast.  But  there  was  not  much  left. 

The  captain  strolled  among  the  men,  his  tall,  gaunt 
form  more  "caved  in"  than  usual,  and  a  look  of  intense 
unsatisfiedness  on  his  dark  face.  He  had  evidently  gone 
supperless  to  bed  the  night  before,  and  certainly  he  had  had 
no  breakfast  that  morning.  Literally  he  had  no  "stomach 
for  a  fight."  "Sergeant,"  he  said  in  his  most  melancholy 
tones,  "haven't  the  men  something  they  can  give  me  to 
eat?"  "Captain,  I  don't  believe  they  have  much  left  for 
themselves."  "Can't  you  detail  a  man  to  go  and  find  some 
thing  for  me?  Egad,  I'm  'most  starved." 

Daniel  Dailey  offered  to  go  out  and  try  to  get  some 
thing  for  him,  and  Dan  was  good  at  foraging. 

Later,  when  a  woman  complained  to  the  captain  of 
one  of  the  boys  whom  she  caught  milking  her  cow,  he  simply 
said :  "Never  mind,  your  cowr  will  give  more  milk  by  and 

by." 

Some  of  the  men  became  expert  in  locating  stored- 
away  provender  of  which  they  stood  in  need.  A  few  min 
utes'  halt  on  the  pike,  in  front  of  a  spacious  farm  house, 
and  the  men  were  busy  as  ants,  bringing  sacks  full  of  shelled 
corn  that  had  been  stored  in  the  attic.  The  horses  at  such 
times  were  not  unaware  of  what  was  going  on.  They 
were  watchful  and  appreciative. 

The  afternoon  of  the  3rd,  Lieutenants  Vermilya  and 
Savacool  went  out  with  a  hundred  men,  and  after  a  long, 
hard  ride  over  rough  and  rocky  roads,  brought  in  twenty- 
five  horses.  They  had  better  help  us  than  help  the  enemy. 

Moved  early  the  morning  of  the  4th  toward  Port  Re 
public.  The  enemy  was  ahead,  but  withdrew  as  our  forces 


360  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

advanced.  Forded  the  South  Fork.  A  rainy  day  and 
night.  Stopped  an  hour  after  midnight  with  orders  to  move 
again  at  four  o'clock. 

At  four  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  regiment 
was  moving.  It  was  a  rainy  morning.  After  a  two  hours' 
march  the  scouts  came  back  reporting  the  enemy  in  force. 
The  First  cavalry  was  in  the  advance.  Skirmishers  were 
thrown  out  in  front  and  flankers  to  the  right  and  left. 
Major  Quinn  was  prompt  in  his  movements.  Company  C 
was  formed  in  line  in  the  woods  to  the  right  of  the  column, 
and  A  to  the  left,  with  instructions  to  go  forward  in  line 
abreast  with  the  head  of  the  column.  There  was  some  delay 
on  the  right,  the  men  having  to  dismount  and  tear  away 
some  fences.  The  remaining  companies  in  column  moved 
forward  until  the  first  squadron  was  out  of  the  woods. 
Through  some  mistake  the  men  were  not  deployed  as  fast 
as  they  emerged  from  the  woods.  Perhaps  they  were  a 
little  surprised  to  see  immediately  in  front  of  them  a  broad, 
rounded  hill  filled  with  the  enemy.  After  going  forward 
a  little  they  halted  and  became  a  mark  for  all  the  Confed 
erates  on  the  hill.  They  were  taken  at  a  disadvantage. 
But  they  held  their  ground  and  promptly  and  continuously 
returned  the  enemy's  fire.  Lieutenant  Vermilya  at  the  head 
of  the  column  was  shot  and  fell  from  his  horse.  There 
seemed  to  be  no  one  just  there  to  give  the  command  to  de 
ploy  and  charge.  Such  a  movement  would  have  been  safer 
than  to  wait  in  column  receiving  that  murderous  fire.  The 
supports  on  the  right  were  delayed  by  obstructions.  A 
Confederate  officer  with  uplifted  sabre  led  a  charge  down 
the  slope  of  the  hill  with  such  vigor  that  these  companies 
were  forced  back  into  the  woods. 

In  the  first  forward  movement  Lieutenant  Savacool's 
horse  got  beyond  his  control  and  carried  him  into  the  ranks 
of  the  Confederates.  It  had  been  raining,  and  he  was  wear- 


UP  THE  VALLEY:     PIEDMONT.  361 

ing  a  light-colored  rubber  coat.  He  mingled  among  them 
unobserved  in  the  excitement,  and  in  the  counter  charge  he 
came  back  among  his  own  men. 

Sergeant  Buss,  George  Mason  and  several  others  of 
Company  M,  and  twenty  or  more  of  other  companies  were 
wounded,  and  a  number  of  horses  killed  or  wounded  in  prob 
ably  less  than  five  minutes.  Lieutenant  Clark  Stanton  was 
shot  in  the  thigh.  Thomas  Gorman  of  M,  in  falling  back 
tried  to  jump  the  fence.  The  fence  fell  and  his  horse  with 
it,  falling  upon  him.  Two  Confederates  coming  up  helped 
him  out  from  under  his  horse,  and  held  him  prisoner.  By 
this  time  Major  Quinn  and  the  other  officers  had  rallied 
the  men  and  were  moving  forward  again.  Gorman  said  to 
his  two  captors,  "Now  you  are  my  prisoners." 

As  has  been  stated,  the  regiment  quickly  rallied  and 
made  a  prompt  and  determined  advance.  Behind  it  came 
the  long,  compact  line  of  the  Twenty-first  New  York  cav 
alry,  and  the  enemy  gave  way. 

Dr.  Douglas  and  other  friends  hastened  to  the  assist 
ance  of  Lieutenant  Vermilya.  But  he  had  been  mortally 
wounded,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  dead.  He  had  been 
the  first  orderly  sergeant  of  Company  D,  and  was  univer 
sally  respected  as  an  honest,  faithful  soldier. 

Those  who  had  been  sent  out  on  the  extreme  right  of 
the  skirmish  line,  from  a  high  hill  looked  down  on  all  that 
was  taking  place — the  round-topped  hill  covered  with 
mounted  Confederates  waiting  for  their  assailants  to  come 
out  of  the  \voods ;  the  column  that  had  dashed  ahead  of  the 
companies  deployed  in  the  woods,  receiving  the  fire  of  the 
enemy  at  such  a  disadvantage;  the  spiteful  shots  on  one 
side  and  on  the  other ;  the  first  recoiling  of  the  Confederates ; 
their  leader,  with  uplifted  sabre,  calling  upon  his  men  to 
follow  him  in  a  headlong  charge  down  the  hill;  Vermilya 
shot  from  his  horse;  the  column  falling  back;  the  advance 


362  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  the  rallied  lines;  the  determined  charge  up  the  sides  of 
the  hill;  riderless  horses  running  wild  over  the  dead  and 
wounded,  and  among  the  living;  the  enemy  driven  in  con 
fusion  before  their  assailants. 

These  mounted  Confederates  were  the  advance  of  the 
forces  of  Imboden,  Vaughn  and  Jones,  which,  to  the  num 
ber  of  5,000  or  6,000  were  a  mile  or  more  farther  on.  These 
were  strongly  posted  in  the  edge  of  some  woods,  behind 
hastily  thrown  up  defences  of  rails  and  earth.  On  their  left 
was  a  stream  with  a  high  bluff.  General  W.  E.  Jones  was 
in  command. 

The  Federal  cavalry  advanced  within  artillery  distance 
of  these  entrenchments,  and  waited  for  the  artillery  and  in 
fantry  to  come  up.  Several  of  the  officers  were  lounging 
under  some  trees,  taking  their  ease,  in  front  of  the  regiment, 
when  a  shell  passed  in  and  out  among  them,  exploding  a 
little  farther  on.  It  seemed  best  to  move  the  regiment  to 
the  left  to  a  less  exposed  position.  In  the  moving  it  passed 
across  a  field  in  the  range,  it  would  seem,  of  all  the  big  guns 
the  enemy  had,  and  the  guns  were  well  aimed. 

The  battle  line  of  infantry  went  at  those  Confederate 
defences  with  a  coolness  and  steadiness  that  could  not  be 
surpassed.  The  artillery  hammered  away  at  them  unceas 
ingly.  Dismounted  cavalry  went  in  on  the  flanks.  Gen 
eral  Stahel  commanding  the  cavalry,  watching  for  a  chance 
to  use  his  men  to  the  best  advantage,  conspicuous  by  his 
wide-brimmed  straw  hat  that  he  was  wearing  that  day,  was 
wounded  in  an  arm,  but  remained  on  the  field. 

The  artillery  made  some  breaches  in  the  defences;  the 
infantry  was  ready  to  charge  through  these  breaches.  The 
First  cavalry  was  to  charge  around  on  the  right  of  the  en 
emy's  position. 

To  get  under  good  headway  Ala j or  Quinn  led  the  regi 
ment  off  somewhat  to  the  left,  then  wheeled  to  the  right  and 


UP  THE  VALLEY  :     PIEDMONT.  363 

bore  across  a  clover  field  toward  the  woods.  To  the  Con 
federates  in  the  woods,  that  long  line  of  horsemen  with 
drawn  sabres  bearing  down  upon  them,  must  have  been  a 
formidable  sight.  The  woods  were  full  of  Confederates. 
But  between  the  clover  field  and  the  woods  was  a  high  rail 
fence,  staked  and  riclered.  Before  getting  into  the  woods 
it  would  be  necessary  to  dismount  and  take  down  the  fence, 
for  it  was  impossible  to  jump  it.  The  enemy  fired  some 
lively  volleys  at  the  cavalry  as  it  came  near  the  fence,  then 
broke  and  fled.  But  in  their  excitement  their  firing  was 
wild  and  high.  Captain  Jones  riding  in  front  of  his  squad 
ron,  had  his  horse  killed.  The  horse  falling  upon  the  cap 
tain's  leg,  held  him  fast  to  the  ground.  To  get  free,  he  had 
to  pull  his  foot  out  of  his  boot  and  leave  the  boot  there,  and 
he  came  back  from  the  field  with  one  foot  bootless.  Cor 
poral  Oliver  Lumphrey  had  his  horse  shot. 

There  were  cheers  for  Tim  Quinn  as  he  led  this  charge. 
But  one  lieutenant,  thinking  it  impossible  to  jump  the  fence, 
and  thinking  it  useless  to  sit  still  on  his  horse  on  one  side 
of  the  fence  with  the  woods  full  of  the  enemy  on  the  other, 
chose  to  exercise  the  right  of  private  judgment,  and  sheered 
off  to  the  right,  without  orders,  and  though  loudly  called 
upon  to  come  back,  rode  away  as  fast  as  his  horse  could 
carry  him. 

It  has  been  related  that  on  another  field  a  soldier  hurry 
ing  to  the  rear  was  stopped  by  an  officer,  who  asked  why 
he  was  running  away — "You  are  not  wounded."  "No,  but 
I  am  fearfully  demoralized!" 

Another  lieutenant  felt  something  strike  him  behind  the 
left  shoulder  as  he  was  turning  about.  He  broke  from  the 
ranks  and  rode  rapidly  to  the  rear,  lustily  shouting,  "Dr. 
Douglas!  Dr.  Douglas!!"  Often  men  would  be  severely 
wounded  and  not  know  it  at  the  time.  In  this  case  a  spent 
ball,  probably,  had  hit  the  lieutenant,  but  it  had  not  so  much 


364  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

as  left  a  mark,  as  was  found  by  the  doctor's  examination. 
It  can  be  supposed  that  spent  balls  could  be  felt. 

Behind  the  rail*  and  earth  entrenchments  was  a  long 
line  of  dead  men  lying  two,  three  and  four  deep.  In  places 
this  line  had  been  set  on  fire,  and  bodies  were  partly  con 
sumed.  All  through  the  woods  the  dead  and  wounded  were 
lying.  Among  the  killed  was  General  W.  E.  Jones,  shot 
through  the  center  of  the  forehead.  He  had  the  appearance 
of  having  been  an  intellectual  and  cultured  gentleman. 

A  wounded  man  lying  by  the  side  of  a  tree  wished  to 
change  his  position  so  that  he  could  partly  sit  up,  leaning 
against  the  tree.  A  Union  soldier  helping  him  observed 
that  the  wounded  man's  leg  did  not  turn  as  the  man  him 
self  turned.  The  leg,  broken  at  the  thigh,  was  limp  and 
helpless.  "Oh,  I  am  so  sick,"  were  his  words  as  a  faint- 
ness  all  but  death  came  over  him.  He  was  helped  to  the 
desired  position,  but  nothing  more  could  be  done  for  him. 

One  was  lying  on  his  back  with  a  bullet  hole  in  his  fore 
head.  ''That  poor  fellow  never  knew  what  hurt  him,"  said 
one  standing  by  him.  The  supposed  dead  man  opened  his 
eyes  and  looked  at  the  speaker,  as  if  he  had  heard  the  re 
mark,  and  was  conscious  of  his  condition,  but  could  not 
speak.  The  woods  were  full  of  such  sights. 

About  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  three  cannon,  and 
three  thousand  stand  of  small  arms  were  taken. 

The  Confederates  fled.  The  cavalry  followed  in  swift 
pursuit,  gathering  in  prisoners  and  capturing  the  guns  that 
some  determined  men  had  placed  in  position  to  repel  the 
pursuers  and  cover  the  retreat.  These  guns  they  persist 
ently  continued  to  fight  until  the  cavalry  were  right  upon 
them. 

The  republican  national  convention  was  in  session  at 
Baltimore  for  the  purpose  of  renominating  President  Lin- 


UP  THE  VALLEY:     PIEDMONT.  365 

coin,  when  the  news  of  this  victory  was  published.  It  added 
greatly  to  the  enthusiasm  of  the  occasion. 

The  6th,  after  burying  the  dead  and  burning  the  cap 
tured  arms,  the  cavalry  moved  on  to  Staunton,  twelve  miles. 
The  Confederates  had  withdrawn. 

The  following  account  of  this  affair  from  the  Confed 
erate  point  of  view,  a  little  too  highly  colored  in  some  par 
ticulars,  is  taken  from  Peyton's  History  of  Augusta  County : 

When  the  Confederates  reached  Piedmont,  a  hamlet  two  miles 
north  of  New  Hope,  General  Jones  halted,  and  formed  his  troops  in 
line  of  battle.  The  Augusta  officers  in  the  force,  knowing  the  country 
better  than  the  general  did,  urged  a  further  retreat  to  Mowry's  Hill. 
This  was  a  short  distance  south  of  New  Hope,  and  a  very  strong  posi 
tion,  where,  it  was  believed,  a  successful  defence  might  be  made.  The 
general,  however,  declined  this  advice  and  kept  his  ground.  The 
Federal  force  was  soon  in  the  Confederate  front,  advancing  in  that 
cool,  dogged  and  deliberate  manner  so  characteristic  of  the  Yankee, 
and  this  force  was  composed  almost  entirely  of  native  troops.  The 
Confederate  cavalry  was  ordered  to  advance,  and  did  so  at  a  gallop,  the 
blooded  horses  bounding  lightly  over  ditches,  fences  and  every  ob 
struction.  They  rushed  upon  the  Federal  cavalry  like  an  avalanche, 
sabering  the  officers  and  men  and  driving  them  from  the  field  like 
chaff  before  the  angry  winds.  As  the  enemy's  cavalry  broke  and  fled 
the  Confederate  troopers  found  temselves  confronted  by  long  un 
broken  lines  of  Federal  infantry,  and  retired.  The  Federals  continued 
their  dogged  advance  in  line  of  battle.  When  a  short  distance  from 
the  Confederate  lines,  they  halted  to  gather  breath,  and  after  a  little 
rest,  during  which  many  were  shot  down,  they  advanced  in  the  face 
of  a  destructive  fire,  and  made  a  fierce  attack  on  our  lines.  The  Con 
federates  behaved  like  veterans — the  boys  emulating  the  example  of 
their  sires,  those  old  heroes  who  had  been  so  hewed  and  hacked  to 
pieces  during  the  war  that  there  was  now  nothing  whole  about  them 
but  their  hearts.  Incredible  as  it  may  seem,  this  force  repelled  the 
enemy's  attack,  driving  them  back  broken  and  confused,  like  the 
waves  which  dash  impotently  against  the  rocks.  The  Yankees  halted 
at  the  point  from  which  they  made  their  last  advance,  stunned  and 
astounded.  Not  dispirited,  however,  they  closed  up  their  ranks  and 
moved  forward  a  second  time — not  with  Confederate  impetuosity,  but 
with  the  same  deliberate,  sullen  determination  which  belongs  to  that 
eminently  bull-dog  race.  They  were  again  driven  back  with  much 


366  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

slaughter.  Once  more  they  formed  in  close  order,  and  a  third  time 
advanced  to  the  attack.  This  time  they  brought  up  their  reserves. 
These  fresh  troops  were  directed  to  the  weak  points  in  the  Confederate 
lines — the  left  wing— which  was  decimated  by  a  withering  fire  kept  up 
by  these  cold-blooded  Federals,  whose  guns  seemed  never  empty, 
however  frequently  fired.  Many  were  armed  with  Winchester  rifles 
which  fire  thirty  times  before  it  is  necessary  to  reload.  The  Con 
federates,  finding  longer  resistance  impossible,  began  a  retreat — gray- 
headed  cripples,  one-armed  convalescents  and  young  boys,  retiring 
slowly,  loading  and  firing  as  they  fell  back,  and  thus  preventing  a 
panic  and  rout.  The  retreat  was  continued  to  Fishersville.  *  *  *  * 
Lieutenants  Carter  Berkeley  and  H.  H.  Fults  commanded  two 
sections  of  McClenechan's  horse  artillery.  When  they  saw  the  left 
wing  of  Jones'  force  fall  back,  heard  of  the  death  of  Jones  himself,  and 
saw  the  right  give  way  in  confusion,  they  advanced  without  orders  to 
the  front.  Here  they  took  up  a  position  with  their  guns  on  either 
side  of  the  highway,  opposite  the  center  of  that  imperturbable  mass 
of  phlegmatic  Yankees,  which  was  still  advancing  with  a  slow  pace 
and  determined  air.  Acting  on  their  own  impulses,  Berkeley  and 
Fults  now  opened  fire  on  the  host  in,  their  front,  cutting  wide  gaps  in 
the  Federal  ranks  and  retarding  their  advance.  The  enemy,  seeing 
the  desperate  conduct  of  these  batteries  unsupported  by  infantry, 
ordered  the  First  New  York  cavalry  to  spike  the  Rebel  guns.  This 
fine  regiment  of  knickerbockers  advanced  at  full  speed.  As  they 
galloped  up  the  guns  plowed  wide  gaps  in  their  ranks,  hurling  riders 
and  horses  to  the  ground.  This  did  not  stop  them.  On  the  troopers 
came,  sabering  men  right  and  left.  Reaching  the  batteries,  a  free  fight 
occurred  over  the  cannon.  *  *  *  The  Confederate  fragments  of  an 
army  made  good  its  retreat  without  confusion  or  panic. 


WM.  B.   FRANKLIN. 


DAVID  HUNTER. 


ROBERT  MILROY, 


Wrt.;V.   \VSRELL. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
LYNCHBURG. 

^?S  S  the  cavalry  entered  Staunton  they  received  no  loyal 
J.  \  greeting.  Only  a  few  colored  people  seemed  glad  to 
see  the  old  flag.  Before  leaving  the  place  there  were  some 
pleasant  acquaintances  made  that  were  kept  up  long  after 
the  war  was  over.  There  were  many  prominent  families 
living  here,  some  of  them  well  known  throughout  the  coun 
try.  There  was  the  appearance  of  refinement  about  the  peo 
ple  and  the  place. 

Staunton  was  an  important  town  in  a  pleasant  valley 
between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  eastern  range  of  the 
Alleghanies.  It  was  surrounded  by  moderate  hills.  It  was 
the  seat  of  several  state  asylums  and  some  noted  institutions 
of  learning.  It  had  its  history,  too.  When  Cornwallis' 
bold  cavalry  leader,  Tarleton,  was  raiding  about  Charlottes- 
ville,  the  temporary  seat  of  the  state  government  in  1781, 
the  legislature  moved  to  Staunton  to  finish  its  session.  The 
asylums,  located  in  beautiful  grounds,  had  been  converted 
into  hospitals. 

Rockets  had  been  seen  by  night  off  toward  the  south 
west.  These  were  signals  indicating  that  Crook  and  Averell 
were  coming.  They  had  done  their  work  on  their  way  from 
the  Kanawha  Valley.  They  had  moved  in  two  columns. 
Averell  had  struck  the  Virginia  and  East  Tennesse  railroad 
and  destroyed  many  miles  of  it.  The  7th,  Hunter  sent  out 


367 


368  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

a  large  force  to  meet  them.  The  forces  were  united  as 
originally  planned.  Railroad  and  other  public  property  was 
destroyed. 

The  same  day  a  detachment  was  sent  back  to  the  battle 
field  to  escort  to  Staunton  the  long  train  of  ambulances 
loaded  with  the  wounded.  Mounted  Confederates,  singly 
or  in  small  squads,  were  riding  about,  ready  to  pick  up  any 
one  so  unfortunate  as  to  wander  a  little  way  from  his  com 
mand.  Two  men  seeing  a  corn  crib  thirty  or  forty  rods 
from  their  detachment  which  had  halted  in  the  road,  went 
there  to  get  a  feed  for  their  horses.  While  they  were  busy 
filling  their  sacks  a  Confederate  rode  across  a  field  and  from 
a  distance  of  a  couple  of  rods  rapidly  fired  two  revolvers  at 
the  crib.  To  the  men  inside,  the  shots  seemed  to  strike 
against  the  side  of  the  corn  house  with  a  peculiar  vindictive- 
ness.  As  soon  as  they  were  ready  to  respond,  the  Confed 
erate  coolly  rode  away.  The  8th,  a  detachment  went  toward 
Waynesborough  and  found  the  enemy  in  considerable  force. 
In  a  fight  with  them  William  Mulligan  of  Co.  H  was  killed. 
The  Qth,  a  foraging  party  encountered  about  thirty  of  the 
enemy,  gave  them  a  lively  chase,  and  returned. 

At  dress  parade  the  farewell  orders  of  Colonel  Mc- 
Reynolds,  who  had  for  so  long  a  time  commanded  the 
brigade,  were  read.  A  force  was  to  escort  a  train  and  the 
prisoners  back  to  Martinsburg.  The  colonel's  term  of  serv 
ice  was  about  to  expire,  and  he  was  to  return  and  be  mus 
tered  out.  General  Stahel  was  to  command  the  escort,  and 
Captain  Bailey  was  to  go  with  him  as  one  of  his  staff. 

There  was  a  general  feeling  of  regret  at  the  separation 
of  the  colonel  from  his  command.  While  a  younger  man 
would  naturally  possess  more  of  the  dash  expected  in  a 
leader  of  cavalry,  yet,  in  the  command  of  a  brigade  and  at 
times  in  that  of  a  division,  he  had  shown  bravery  and  judg 
ment.  His  patriotism  no  one  ever  questioned. 


LYNCHBURG.  369 

Orders  were  to  be  in  line  at  three  the  next  morning,  but 
these  orders  were  anticipated  at  eleven  by  an  alarm.  A 
picket  post  had  been  attacked  in  force  and  driven  in.  Re 
mained  in  the  street,  around  headquarters,  until  morning, 
armed  and  ready  to  mount. 

The  loth,  the  train  with  prisoners  and  escort  started 
back.  General  Alfred  V.  Duffie  assumed  command  of  the 
brigade.  Hunter's  army,  now  increased  to  about  18,000, 
was  advancing  in  three  columns.  Himself  with  the  infantry 
and  trains  kept  the  pike,  with  Averell's  cavalry  to  the  right, 
while  Duffie  on  the  left  moved  toward  Waynesborough. 
The  left  followed  a  narrow,  crooked  road  through  a  rough 
and  poor  country.  Entered  Rockfish  Gap,  burning  Mt. 
Tenney  iron  furnace.  Th£  night  was  cold,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  be  on  the  watch.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
the  nth,  the  march  was  continued  up  a  steep  and  stony 
road  and  along  the  bed  of  a  swift  mountain  stream.  Upon 
reaching  the  mountain  top  a  magnificent  view  was  spread 
out  to  the  east,  a  limitless  plain  sloping  down  to  the  horizon, 
seemingly  almost  to  the  ocean.  The  descent  of  the  moun 
tain  was  a  fearful  road.  After  reaching  the  bottom  the 
column  moved  out  over  a  pleasant  country  toward  Char- 
lottesville,  finding  good  foraging,  and  capturing  a  few  wag 
ons  of  a  train.  In  these  were  found  a  paymaster's  supply 
of  Confederate  money  and  other  stores  of  some  value.  The 
railroad  track  was  torn  up  and  telegraph  wires  were  cut. 

Stopped  for  the  night  on  the  bank  of  the  Tye  river, 
keeping  horses  saddled.  There  was  probably  some  Confed 
erate  force  in  front.  If  this  should  prove  to  be  the  case, 
the  position  in  which  the  command  would  find  itself  would 
be  something  like  a  pocket. 

The  morning  of  the  I2th,  there  was  waiting  for  the 
return  of  some  fast  riders  who  had  been  sent  to  Hunter. 
They  had  ridden  forty  miles  and  back  in  ten  hours.  The 


370  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

command  marched  for  a  few  miles  along  the  pleasant  bank 
of  the  Tye,  then  turned  to  the  right  and  entered  upon  a  road 
that  skirted  the  eastern  base  of  the  mountain.  It  was  one 
of  the  worst  roads  the  regiment  had  ever  traveled — rocks, 
ravines,  steep  pitches  up  and  down,  and  sidling  places  where 
it  was  difficult  to  keep  the  wagons  from  tipping  over.  All 
day  and  all  night  the  slow  and  toilsome  march  was  kept  up. 
More  than  a  hundred  horses  gave  out.  As  the  team  horses 
gave  out  some  of  the  few  wagons  that  had  been  brought 
along  could  be  taken  no  farther.  These  were  burned.  The 
moon  in  its  first  quarter  had  early  gone  behind  the  moun 
tain  ridge  that  rose,  steep  and  high,  on  our  right  hand.  The 
night  was  intensely  dark.  Only  now  and  then  a  faint  star 
could  be  seen  through  the  openings  among  the  tops  of  the  tall 
trees  that  hung  over  the  pass.  On  the  left  was  down  into 
deep  blackness.  There  was  only  the  light  from  the  aban 
doned  wagons  that  were  burning  at  intervals  along  the  steep 
road.  The  march  was  kept  up  until  almost  daybreak, 
twenty-four  miles. 

After  a  brief  rest  the  march  began  again  at  seven 
o'clock.  Crossed  the  summit  of  the  Blue  Ridge  again 
through  White's  Gap,  by  a  reasonably  good  road,  and  came 
down  into  the  Valley.  Rested  and  fed  on  the  banks  of  the 
pleasant  South  river,  a  tributary  of  the  James.  Near  by 
were  the  smoking  ruins  of  Jordan's  furnace,  just  burned. 
Marched  on  to  Lexington,  seventeen  miles.  Found  Gen 
eral  Hunter  here.  He  had  had  a  fight  with  Imboden  before 
taking  possession  of  the  place,  but  he  had  driven  the  enemy 
in  haste  before  him. 

Here  Hunter  more  than  made  up  for  the  non-burning 
of  Newtown.  The  young  cadets  of  the  Lexington  Military 
Institute  had  borne  a  part  in  the  battle  of  New  Market. 
From  a  professorship  in  this  Institute  Stonewall  Jackson  had 
entered  the  Confederate  service.  Hunter  ordered  the  In- 


LYNCHBURG.  371 

stitute  to  be  burned.  He  stood  looking  at  the  burning  build 
ing,  saying  as  he  rubbed  his  hands  and  chuckled  with  de 
light,  "Doesn't  that  burn  beautifully?" 

The  burning  of  this  Institute  was  a  legitimate  act  of 
war.  It  had  been  a  school  for  the  training  of  soldiers. 
Hunter  also  burned  the  house  of  Governor  Letcher.  In  a 
printing  office  at  Lexington  were  found  copies  of  a  hand 
bill  issued  and  signed  by  Letcher,  that  had  been  posted 
through  the  country,  calling  on  the  people  to  "bushwhack" 
Hunter's  men,  murder  them  by  shooting  them  from  con 
cealed  places.  This  was  not  open  warfare.  At  the  time  of 
the  burning  of  the  house  the  governor's  daughter,  it  was 
said,  expressed  herself  in  vigorous  terms.  Notwithstand 
ing  Letcher's  proclamation,  the  men  of  the  regiment  could 
not  be  made  to  look  upon  the  burning  of  private  residences 
as  a  proper  act  of  war.  Nothing  was  gained  by  it,  as  was 
proved  when,  a  few  weeks  later,  Early  entered  Maryland. 

Hunter  proposed  also  to  burn  Washington  College  that 
had  been  endowed  by  President  Washington.  But  so  many 
of  his  officers  protested  so  vigorously  that  it  was  spared. 
This  college  was  begun  as  a  school  in  a  log  house,  in  1776. 
It  soon  grew  into  Liberty  Hall  Academy.  Its  first  rector 
was  Rev.  William  Graham.  In  1781,  when  Tarleton 
reached  Charlottesville,  the  legislature  barely  escaping  cap 
ture,  the  men  of  all  this  region  came  together  without  a 
leader.  Mr.  Graham  was  chosen  leader,  and  the  whole  band 
was  determined  that  no  foreign  soldiers  should  enter  this 
Valley.  In  1796,  Washington  was  presented  by  the  legis 
lature  with  some  shares  in  the  James  River  Improvement 
Company.  These  he  turned  over  to  this  institution.  His 
name  was  given  to  the  college.  After  the  civil  war  it  was 
named  the  Washington  and  Lee  University.  As  president 
of  this  college,  Robert  E.  Lee  passed  his  last  years. 

This  county  was  named  Rockbridge  from  the  Natural 


372  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Bridge,  fourteen  miles  southwest  from  Lexington.  The 
county  is  full  of  traditions  and  reminiscences  of  the  greatest 
historic  interest  and  value.  The  early  settlers  were  people 
of  the  strictest  religious  principles,  and  very  many  eminent 
men  have  gone  out  from  here — among  them  Dr.  Alexander, 
of  Princeton,  and  Sam  Houston,  of  Texas. 

The  country,  too,  was  exceedingly  beautiful  with  its 
variety  of  scenery — mountains,  valleys  and  streams.  The 
soil  was  fertile.  Mineral  springs  poured  forth  from  the 
bases  of  the  hills  copious  streams  of  healing. 

The  night  of  the  I3th,  after  a  march  of  seventeen  miles, 
the  regiment  stopped  on  Tutweiler's  place.  The  I4th,  the 
command  marched  slowly  till  near  night,  then  rapidly  till 
midnight,  twenty-four  miles,  to  Buchanan.  The  Natural 
Bridge  was  within  three  miles  of  the  pike.  A  party  of  for 
agers  went  that  way,  and  stopped  to  visit  it. 

Captain  Martindale  was  out  a  few  miles  from  the  line 
of  march.  His  party,  made  up  of  details  from  several  com 
panies,  was  about  passing  a  dense  thicket  when  some  strange 
actions  of  a  "negro  in  the  woods"  attracted  their  attention. 
They  stopped  to  investigate.  A  shot  was  fired.  This  in 
tensified  their  interest.  It  was  soon  found  that  several  wag 
ons  were  hidden  away  in  these  thickets,  and  there  were 
people  there  to  defend  them.  Captain  Martindale  and  his 
men  proposed  to  know  all  about  it.  There  was  some  lively 
skirmishing  in  which  several  were  wounded. 

Colonel  McDonald,  a  venerable,  white-haired  man, 
the  recent  commandant  of  the  Military  Institute,  had  loaded 
his  most  valuable  records  and  possessions  on  these  wagons, 
and  hoped  to  remain  unnoticed  in  his  place  of  concealment 
until  the  army  had  passed  by;  or,  if  discovered,  with  some 
few  trusted  servants  and  friends,  well  armed,  he  hoped  to 
defend  himself.  It  was  the  very  anxiety  of  one  of  his  party 
to  escape  notice  that  awakened  suspicion  and  led  to  the  dis- 


LYNCHBURG.  373 

covery.  The  colonel  said  he  would  rather  have  died  than 
been  taken.  Nevertheless,  he  was  soon  on  very  friendly 
terms  with  the  officers  of  the  regiment.  He  had  not  fallen 
into  such  very  bad  hands.  Some  of  them  had  been  on 
friendly  terms  with  the  McDonalds  and  other  related  fam 
ilies  in  Winchester. 

The  morning  of  the  I5th,  the  command  forded  the 
James  river  at  the  pleasant  town  of  Buchanan.  A  few  of 
the  people  here  were  courageous  enough  to  say  they  were 
glad  to  see  the  old  flag  again.  The  column  now  entered 
upon  a  very  rough  road  that  led  up  the  mountain,  where, 
after  a  march  of  seventeen  miles,  the  cavalry  stopped  for 
the  night.  The  i6th  was  an  easy  march  of  only  nine  miles 
down  the  mountains  between  the  Peaks  of  Otter,  and  over 
old  Indian  battle  plains. 

The  Peaks  of  Otter  were  the  highest  mountains  that 
many  of  the  regiment  had  ever  seen.  They  were  nearly 
conical  in  shape.  The  higher  one  stood  4,200  feet  above  the 
plain,  and  5,300  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Down  at 
the  base  of  the  mountains  was  the  pleasant  village  of  Liberty. 
It  seemed  almost  an  ideal  situation  with  its  mountain  back 
ground,  while  before  it  lay  the  broad,  rich  plains  watered  by 
the  James  and  the  tributaries  of  the  Roanoke. 

Here  were  comfortable  hospitals.  Many  miles  of  the 
Virginia  and  East  Tennessee  railroad  were  torn  up,  and 
public  stores  were  destroyed. 

The  1 7th,  the  cavalry  marched  toward  New  London, 
forded  the  Otter,  a  branch  of  the  Roanoke,  and  bivouacked 
early  in  a  piece  of  woods.  An  old  barn-like  building  was 
pointed  out,  once  the  court  house  of  Lunenburg  county.  It 
was  in  this  court  house  that  Patrick  Henry  made  one  of 
his  famous  speeches.  He  was  defending  a  commissary  who 
had  taken,  for  the  use  of  the  Revolutionary  army  in  its  last 
campaign,  some  cattle  from  a  wealthy  Scotch  farmer,  John 


374  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Hook.  The  farmer  brought  suit  to  recover  the  value  of 
the  cattle.  Henry  eloquently  described  the  general  rejoic 
ing  of  the  people  and  the  army  over  the  victory  at  York- 
town,  and  the  promise  of  independence  and  of  peace ;  "and 
this  rejoicing  was  rudely  disturbed  by  the  voice  of  John 
Hook  hoarsely  bawling  through  the  American  camp,  'Beef! 
Beef!!' '  The  plaintiff  had  to  contribute  his  cattle  for  the 
public  good.  There  were  similar  conditions  in  the  same 
locality  now.  Contributions  had  to  be  taken  for  the  public 
good. 

There  was  considerable  skirmishing  around  New  Lon 
don.  But  the  enemy  retired  and  the  cavalry,  after  a  march 
of  seventeen  miles,  bivouacked  in  the  woods  near  Hunter's 
headquarters,  three  miles  from  Lynchburg. 

Ordered  out  early  on  the  morning  of  the  i8th.  There 
was  marching  and  counter  marching  in  making  disposition 
for  attacking  the  town.  The  infantry  and  artillery  were 
arranged  on  the  south  side;  Averell's  cavalry  was  on  the 
right,  and  Duffie's  on  the  left.  There  was  a  scattering 
firing  at  long  range  all  along  the  line  the  greater  part  of  the 
day.  It  became  evident  that  the  place  was  well  defended, 
and  no  direct  assault  at  close  quarters  was  made.  Railroad 
trains  had  been  coming  from  the  east  the  night  before,  and 
they  were  coming  all  day.  Breckinridge's  division  and 
Early's  entire  corps  were  being  hurried  here  from  Richmond. 

Parties  of  cavalry  were  out.  One  accompanied  Lieut. 
Meigs,  engineer,  to  a  bridge  over  the  Otter.  The  bridge 
was  to  be  burned.  Williamson  went  across  to  start  a  fire 
at  the  farther  end.  Another  was  kindling  a  blaze  at  this  end. 
Each  was  so  intent  on  his  work  that  neither  watched  what 
the  other  was  doing,  until  Williamson  found  himself  in  the 
middle  of  the  bridge  between  two  fires.  He  had  to  climb 
down  to  the  river  and  work  his  way  ashore. 

A  company  was  sent  to  the  left  of  the  entire  line  to 


LYNCHBURG.  375 

guard  against  a  surprise  from  that  direction.  The  sergeant 
in  charge  placed  his  men,  in  squads  of  four  or  five,  on  posts 
that  made  a  wide  semicircle.  One  man  he  kept  with  him 
self  in  the  center.  For  a  couple  of  hours  all  was  quiet  here, 
and  the  sergeant,  fastening  the  bridle  reins  to  the  pommel 
of  the  saddle,  dismounted  and  allowed  his  mare  to  graze. 
He  had  wandered  off  nearly  thirty  rods,  when  he  observed 
that  a  shell  had  started  from  a  Confederate  gun  and  was 
coming  his  way  at  a  high  rate  of  speed.  He  calculated  that 
it  would  pass  very  nearly  over  his  mare.  There  wras  not 
time  for  him  to  reach  her.  He  had  reason  to  have  a  good 
deal  of  confidence  in  her  good  sense,  natural  and  acquired. 
But  how  she  would  behave  if  that  shell  should  burst  near  her, 
he  did  not  feel  sure.  He  had  seen  riderless  horses  running 
wild,  uncontrollable,  on  the  battle-field,  and  he  felt  a  little 
nervous.  The  shell  came  on,  tearing  its  way  through  the 
air,  and  exploded  less  than  twenty  feet  directly  over  her. 
She  was  a  well-bred,  intelligent  mare.  As,  startled  by  the 
explosion,  she  stood  for  an  instant,  black  as  coal,  clean 
limbed,  deep-chested,  with  arching  neck,  waving  mane  and 
tail,  small  head  and  ears  erect,  dilated  nostrils,  flashing  eyes, 
quivering  with  excitement,  she  was  as  fine  an  embodiment 
of  equine  spirit  as  one  ever  saw.  But  what  was  she  going 
to  do?  The  sergeant  called  to  her  loudly.  In  another  in 
stant  she  had  recovered  herself  and  trotted  directly  to  him, 
seemingly  conscious  that  she  had  done  the  sensible  thing.  It 
was  a  good  exhibition  of  "horse  sense." 

One  came  in  from  one  of  the  posts  loaded  with  empty 
canteens.  The  men  had  become  thirsty  out  there.  Some 
distance  in  front,  below  a  wooded  bluff,  it  looked  as  if  there 
might  be  a  creek.  The  sergeant  went  with  him  to  see.  Fol 
lowing  a  wagon  path  down  a  ravine  and  below  the  bluff 
they  found  an  abundantly  flowing  spring.  While  the  ser 
geant  held  his  horse  the  other  dismounted  and  plunged  the 


376  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

canteens  into  that  deliciously  cool  water.  But  across  the 
creek  at  a  short  distance  was  a  farm  house,  and  just  beyond 
this  on  a  hill  was  a  picket  post.  There  were  some  suspici 
ous  signals  from  the  house  and  hurrying  up  and  down. 
"Hurry  up,  Dick,"  said  the  sergeant.  "Hurry  up."  But 
the  water  would  run  into  the  narrow  necks  of  those  canteens 
only  just  so  fast.  It  could  not  be  hurried.  Finallythe  canteens 
were  filled  and  the  two  men  were  quickly  riding  up  back 
of  the  bluff.  No  sooner  were  they  there  than  a  shot  came 
over  the  bluff.  The  man  who  was  waiting  there  dismounted, 
fell  full  length  forward.  The  two  rode  quickly  to  the  fallen 
man  expecting  to  find  him  dead.  But  he  jumped  up  un 
hurt.  "What  did  you  fall  for,  if  you  were  not  hurt?" 
"Why,  I  thought  if  they  saw  me  fall  they  would  think  I  was 
killed,  and  they  wouldn't  shoot  again."  Some  carbine  shots 
from  the  bushes  that  fringed  the  bluff,  aimed  at  the  puffs 
of  smoke  that  indicated  the  location  of  the  enemy,  served  as 
a  better  check  on  further  shooting  from  that  direction. 

Just  before  dark  the  cavalry  fell  back  to  a  road  in  the 
rear.  It  was  observed  that  Hunter  and  his  chief  officers 
were  consulting  together,  and  that  all  the  army  was  falling 
back.  Lynchburg  was  too  well  defended,  and  ammunition 
was  giving  out.  Sheridan  had  been  checked  at  Trevilian 
station,  and  was  unable  to  make  the  junction  that  had  been 
planned. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 
THE  RETREAT  ACROSS  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

THE  retreat  was  silent  as  possible  and  rapid  along  the 
crowded,  dusty  road.  The  cavalry  marched  till  two 
o'clock,  and  stopped  in  some  thick  woods  near  New  London. 
Part  of  the  regiment  under  Major  Quinn  had  been  on  picket. 
Quinn  had  received  no  word  of  the  proposed  retreat,  but  he 
soon  learned  of  it,  and  by  flanking  the  column  of  the  enemy 
that  had  already  set  out  in  pursuit,  he  overtook  the  part  that 
had  moved  on.  Sergeant  Hall  in  carrying  orders  found 
himself  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  enemy,  but  evaded  them. 

Aroused  at  daylight  of  the  igth.  Though  the  men 
were  tired  and  hungry,  the  march  was  at  once  begun,  back 
along  the  hot  and  dusty  road.  There  was  a  brief  halt  in  the 
camp  of  the  i6th.  Rested  and  fed  at  Liberty,  and  moved 
on.  The  Confederates  were  following  closely  and  attacking 
the  rear.  The  fighting  was  kept  up  till  after  dark.  After 
a  weary  day  of  marching  back  and  forth,  more  than  twenty 
miles,  and  continually  fighting  off  the  pursuing  enemy,  the 
regiment  halted  at  midnight  a  few  miles  from  Liberty. 

June  20,  move  at  daybreak  toward  Salem.  At  noon 
halt  in  a  restful  place,  hoping  to  stay  all  night.  The  enemy 
again  and  persistently  attacking  the  rear.  The  best 
mounted  men  are  sent  on  ahead  up  the  mountain  to  look  out 
a  road  and  look  out  for  the  enemy.  Wait  till  dark,  and 
then  move  on.  A  bad  road  filled  and  choked  with  wagons, 
artillery,  pack  horses  and  mules,  and  weary  men  hardly  able 
to  walk  on,  many  apparently  sleeping  as  they  walk.  Keep 


877 


378  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

on  the  move  till  just  before  daybreak,  twenty-eight  miles, 
and  stop  near  Bonsack  station  in  Buford's  Gap.  " 

June  21,  burn  the  station,  tear  up  the  railroad,,  destroy 
public  stores  and  move  on.  Pass  through  Salem,  and  three 
miles  beyond.  Halt,  intending  to  rest  and  feed.  But  word 
comes  that  the  Confederate  cavalry  have  made  a  dash  down 
a  by-road  and  struck  the  artillery  moving  along  in  the 
column  some  distance  ahead.  Hunter  is  angry.  The  regi 
ment  is  ordered  out  of  its  hoped-for  resting  place,  and  for 
ward  after  the  enemy  that  have  captured  the  guns.  The 
road  is  blocked.  Turn  out  to  one  side  and  get  on  ahead. 
Start  up  an  open  hill  too  steep  for  horses  to  climb  at  any 
other  time.  ''Move  up!  Move  up  lively  there!"  orders 
Hunter.  The  horses  dig  their  toe  corks  into  the  hill  side, 
climbing  almost  like  cats,  and  pushing  on  past  and  over 
everything  in  the  way,  reach  the  place  of  the  attack  on  the 
artillery. 

The  Confederates  have  made  quick  work.  Horses  are 
lying  dead  in  their  harness.  Harnesses  are  cut.  Spokes  of 
the  wheels  are  hacked  to  pieces.  Gun  carriages  and  cais 
sons  are  demolished.  The  enemy  have  gone — all  but  one 
who  is  sitting  on  his  horse,  a  prisoner.  The  recaptured  guns 
are  lying  dismounted  on  the  ground,  spiked. 

After  a  march  of  twenty-two  miles  halt  at  seasonable 
bedtime,  for  once,  and  expect  a  whole  night's  sleep,  but  we 
are  scared  out  of  most  of  it.  An  alarm,  but  no  attack.  In 
the  Catawba  valley. 

At  four  in  the  morning  of  the  22nd  a  squadron  was 
sent  on  in  advance  about  three  miles  to  picket. 
Here  was  good  foraging.  Plenty  of  corn  for  the 
horses.  There  was  a  house  near  by  Avhose  owner 
was  said  to  have  cut  down  trees  to  block  the  way. 
He  needed  to  be  taught  a  lesson.  In  his  house  were  found 
flour,  bacon,  lard,  in  abundance.  In  his  yard  were  long 
rows  of  beehives.  Till  noon  the  squadron  stayed  there.  For 


THE  RETREAT  ACROSS  THE  MOUNTAINS.          379 

days  they  had  suffered  from  hunger.  Now  they  satisfied 
their  present  wants.  They  cooked  pancakes,  or  "flapjacks," 
in  their  spiders,  and  ate  them  with  a  generous  dressing  of 
honey.  They  made  provision  for  the  future.  From  some 
convenient  piles  of  lumber  they  arranged  long  benches  on 
which  they  laid  out  great  slabs  of  bacon.  These  they  cut 
into  blocks  two  inches  square,  convenient  for  carrying.  Still 
there  was  an  abundance  left.  Some  of  the  men,  for  no 
assignable  reason,  had  brought  out  into  the  road  several 
five-  and  ten-gallon  cans  of  lard.  What  they  expected  to 
do  with  so  much  lard  no  one  could  tell. 

But  the  head  of  the  column  of  infantry  was  coming,  a 
West  Virginia  regiment,  tall,  brown-haired,  stalwart  moun 
taineers.  You  could  tell,  as  far  as  you  could  see  them,  that 
they  were  hungry.  *  'Let's  divide  the  rest  of  this  among 
those  men."  The  benches  were  moved  up  toward  the 
traveled  way.  The  foremost  of  the  infantry,  seeing  the 
benches  covered  with  the  squares  of  bacon,  stepped  out  of 
the  ranks  and,  holding  out  a  silver  half-dollar,  said :  "Party, 
I'll  give  you  half  a  dollar  for  a  piece  of  that  bacon."  The 
pieces  were  handed  out  "without  money  and  without  price," 
a  piece  to  a  man  so  long  as  they  lasted.  When  there  was  no 
bacon  left,  those  men  would  dip  their  tin  cups  into  the  cans 
of  lard,  each  taking  a  cup  full  and  eating  it  as  he  plodded 
wearily  along.  The  lard  cans  were  left  clean. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  rest  of  the  regiment  came  on, 
bringing  up  the  rear  of  the  entire  army.  After  a  march  of 
twelve  miles,  halted  on  a  poor,  brier-covered  farm. 

At  daylight  of  the  23rd,  the  men  were  aroused  by  skir 
mish  firing.  A  party  of  Early's  cavalry  had  been  following, 
but  here  they  were  checked. 

So  many  horses  had  given  out  from  hard  service  and 
little  to  eat,  that  horse  power  was  getting  valuable.  Com 
pany  F  had  impressed  a  convenient  light  wagon  for  carry- 


380  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ing  many  of  the  effects  of  the  men.  But  the  team  failed  on 
the  road,  and  wagon  and  effects  were  left  behind. 

From  Winchester  some  of  the  men  had  brought  along 
a  heavy  city  omnibus.  It  was  a  good  thing  in  itself,  but  it 
required  horse  power.  The  time  came  when  horse  power 
was  no  longer  available  and  the  omnibus  had  to  be  given  up. 
Its  last  appearance  before  all  the  regiment  was  on  a  wide, 
high,  open  hill  top.  There  was  a  long,  clear,  steep  descent 
from  the  hill  top  toward  the  setting  sun.  From  the  bottom 
of  this  descent  there  was  a  corresponding  ascent.  Geo 
logically,  the  situation  was  a  synclinal  axis,  and  the  angle  at 
the  bottom,  between  the  two  slopes  was  about  a  right  angle. 
The  omnibus,  with  its  supported  pole  sticking  out  in  front, 
was  started  straight  down  the  hill.  With  every  increment 
of  its  velocity  the  men  of  the  regiment  cheered.  Down  the 
hill  it  sped,  faster  and  faster,  until  the  end  of  the  pole 
struck  squarely  against  the  opposite  incline.  The  momen 
tum  carried  the  cumbersome  body  of  the  vehicle  in  the  plane 
of  a  vertical  circle,  in  a  complete  summersault  over  the  end 
of  the  pole  as  a  center  of  revolution.  As  it  lay  on  its  back, 
its  four  wheels  rapidly  rotating  in  the  air  like  the  pawing 
feet  of  a  huge  turtle  flopped  on  its  back,  it  presented  an  in 
stance  of  the  ludicrous  in  the  inanimate. 

June  23 — The  regiment  makes  a  detour  to  the  right  and 
follows  up  Barbour's  creek,  a  wild  and  pleasant  ravine,  in 
order  to  get  ahead  of  the  slow-moving  train.  Climb  an 
other  mountain,  and  long  after  nightfall  tie  up  in  a  field 
beside  the  road,  near  Sweet  Springs,  twenty-three  miles. 

June  24,  stay  in  a  fine  meadow  near  the  Springs  until 
the  wagon  train  has  passed  by.  Move  on  behind  the  slow 
train.  A  weary,  all-night  march.  Halt  just  before  morn 
ing  in  an  orchard  near  White  Sulphur  Springs.  A  beauti 
ful  moonlight  night,  if  one's  condition  had  been  favorable 
for  enjoying  it.  No  forage;  seventeen  miles. 


THE  RETREAT  ACROSS  THE  MOUNTAINS.  381 

June  25,  move  into  the  ample  grounds  of  this  famous 
watering  place.  Drink  from  all  the  springs.  Bathe  in 
Howard  creek.  Very  warm.  March  late  in  the  afternoon. 
Keep  moving  slowly  all  night  behind  the  laboring  wagons. 
Sleep  on  our  horses.  Halt  just  at  daylight,  four  miles  from 
Lewisburg.  No  rations.  No  forage.  Eleven  miles. 

June  26 — As  soon  as  we  halt,  the  men  unsaddle  their 
horses,  and  at  once  horses  and  men  lie  down  to  sleep.  Some 
are  too  hungry  to  sleep.  Start  out  on  foot  to  find  some 
thing  to  eat.  Find  a  man  who  has  just  been  milking.  Try 
to  buy  his  milk.  He  can  spare  only  half  a  pint.  Buy  this. 
Raise  a  couple  of  quarts  of  corn.  Give  part  of  this  to  my 
mare.  Roast  and  eat  part,  and  save  the  rest  for  perhaps 
greater  need.  March  late  in  the  afternoon.  Break  off 
birch  branches  as  we  ride  along,  and  gnaw  off  the  bark.  A 
messmate,  whose  name  is  Rufus,  but  whom  everybody  calls 
Dick,  says  if  he  can  have  only  one  of  the  two,  bread  or 
tobacco,  in  such  a  time  as  this,  he  will  take  the  tobacco.  He 
has  been  in  the  mines  and  seen  harder  fare  than  this.  He 
is  long  in  the  body  and  short  in  the  legs.  He  rides  high  on 
his  horse — June  Bug  he  calls  him — and  jokes  without  ceas 
ing.  Make  only  eight  miles,  and  halt  after  dark  on  a  briery, 
stumpy  hill  side.  Go  to  bed  supperless  and  dream  of  a 
splendid  dinner  at  home. 

June  27,  roused  at  four.  Nothing  for  breakfast.  Get 
ready  to  move.  Men  returning  from  picket  drive  in  a  poor 
old  cow.  Word  is  sent  to  the  general  asking  permission  to 
wait  till  the  cow  can  be  killed  and  the  beef  divided.  He 
gives  permission — and  wants  a  piece  of  the  liver.  The  old 
cow  doesn't  go  far,  in  very  small  pieces.  March  steadily. 
Dick  is  not  so  facetious  as  yesterday.  He  still  chews  his 
tobacco.  He  has  tightened  his  belt  a  notch  or  two,  and  rides 
in  grim  silence,  with  lips  so  tight  pressed  that  not  a  joke 
escapes.  Halt  by  a  brook  and  start  some  fires.  A  tall  offi- 


382  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

cer,  almost  starved,  has  succeeded  in  capturing  a  frog,  and 
has  dressed  it.  As  he  is  roasting  the  legs  on  the  point  of 
his  sabre  over  a  fire,  his  dog  sits  by  watching  him.  Some 
one  asks,  "Captain,  why  don't  you  kill  your  dog  and  eat 
him  ?"  The  captain  looks  up  disgusted.  His  usual  solem 
nity  is  intensified.  "I'd  die  first!"  Pass  Meadow  Bluff 
where  supplies  were  expected.  Those  in  charge  of  the 
train  were  turned  back  by  a  rebel  scare.  Cross  ranges  of 
hills  and  Big  Sewell  Mountain.  A  hard  thunder  storm.  At 
last  meet  a  train  with  rations.  Halt  in  a  stumpy,  bushy 
field  on  the  mountain  side.  Twenty-eight  miles. 

June  28,  graze  the  horses.  March  before  noon.  A 
rough  country.  Pass  Camp  Lookout,  Spy  Rock,  and  old 
Indian  trails.  Halt  at  dark  in  a  good  pasture.  Eleven 
miles. 

June  29,  march  at  seven.  The  country  all  hills. 
March  slowly  behind  the  wagons.  At  noon,  halt  on  the 
smooth  top  of  a  bluff  high  above  the  New  river,  four  miles 
from  Gauley  bridge.  Seven  miles. 

June  30,  start  early.  Ford  Gauley  river  on  a  ledge  of 
rocks  above  the  site  of  the  old  bridge.  Wagons  are  ferried 
across.  A  wild,  rocky  place.  All  sounds  echoed  from  the 
rocky  bluffs.  Stop  eight  miles  below  the  bridge  in  a  level 
field  beside  the  river.  Loup  creek.  Mustered  on  mem 
orandum  rolls.  Twelve  miles. 

July  i,  get  an  early  start.  Good  road  along  the  river. 
Very  warm.  Mulberry  trees.  Go  into  camp  early  beside 
the  river.  Flatboat  impressed  by  dismounted  cavalry.  Salt 
works.  Camp  Piatt,  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  the 
Kanawha,  a  permanent  post,  twenty  miles. 

July  2,  leave  Camp  Piatt  early.  Very  warm.  An  in 
teresting  march  with  river  on  one  side  and  mountains  on 
the  other.  Fertile  land.  Salt  works.  Coal  mines. 
"Guide  left"  on  entering  the  city  of  Charleston.  At  noon 


THE  RETREAT  ACROSS  THE  MOUNTAINS.  383 

tie  up  around  a  field  and  pitch  our  little  shelter  tents.  Ten 
miles. 

July  3 — Sunday.  All  quiet.  Get  horses  shod.  Do 
some  mending. 

July  4,  the  infantry  and  part  of  the  cavalry  leave  on 
transports.  At  high  noon  a  salute  in  honor  of  the  day  is 
fired  from  the  fort  across  the  river.  At  night  some  rockets 
are  sent  up. 

July  5,  dress  parade  at  5  130.  Colonel  Wincoop  com 
manding  the  brigade.  See  the  first  northern  papers  for  a 
month.  Severe  criticisms  on  Hunter.  President  Lincoln 
renominated.  The  Alabama  sunk  by  the  Kearsarge.  Sigel 
has  been  driven  out  of  Martinsburg.  The  Confederates  in 
the  lower  Valley  and  in  Maryland. 

July  7,  rainy.  On  the  march  at  seven.  A  rough  coun 
try,  but  good  roads.  Sissonville.  Thirteen  miles. 

July  8 — Sandyville,  thirty-eight  miles. 

July  9 — Bucher's,  twenty-one  miles. 

July  10 — Sunday.  Reach  Parkersburg,  ten  miles,  at 
noon.  Water  our  horses  in  the  Ohio  river.  Get  aboard  a 
train  of  box  cars  on  the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  Train  starts  at  4  p.m. 
Go  through  nineteen  tunnels  before  dark.  Horses  ride  in 
the  cars  and  men  on  top.  A  tedious  all-night  ride. 

July  n,  at  Graf  ton  this  morning.  Interesting  scenery 
along  the  railroad  among  and  through  the  mountains. 
Reach  Cumberland  at  3  p.m.  The  train  stops  at  Cherry 
Run. 

During  all  this  retreat  with  its  all-night  marches,  and 
suffering  from  hunger,  the  men  had  made  light  of  all  their 
hardships.  The  harder  their  experiences  the  more  they 
were  inclined  to  joke.  Many  horses  had  to  be  left  behind. 
Some  men  were  unable  to  go  farther  and  stopped.  Whether 
they  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  was  not  known. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
EAST  OF  THE  BLUE  RIDGE. 

WHEN  it  was  learned  at  Richmond  that  Hunter  was 
on  his  way  to  Lynchburg,  Breckinridge's  division 
was  sent  to  meet  him.  After  Grant's  repulse  at  Cold  Har 
bor,  Lee  felt  that  he  was  able  to  send  all  of  Early's  corps 
on  the  same  errand.  When  Hunter  retired  into  the  moun 
tains  the  way  was  open  for  these  Confederates  all  the  way 
down  the  Valley.  Sigel  was  at  Martinsburg,  but  he  re 
tired  from  that  place  July  3.  That  night  he  crossed  the 
Potomac  at  Sheperdstown.  The  Confederates  tore  up  once 
more  the  track  of  the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.,  and  burned  bridges, 
from  Cherry  Run  to  Harper's  Ferry.  They  had  now  been 
roaming  about  in  Maryland,  gathering  supplies  and  levy 
ing  contributions  on  the  towns. 

As  soon  as  possible  after  reaching  Cherry  Run,  the 
horses  were  taken  from  the  cars.  After  a  good  square 
breakfast,  the  regiment  began  its  march  over  a  hot  and  dusty 
road,  up  hill  and  down,  through  Hedgesville  to  Martins- 
burg,  seventeen  miles.  Rested  in  Faulkner's  woods. 

A  detachment  under  Major  Quinn  was  sent  to  Harper's 
Ferry.  Other  detachments  were  sent  in  other  directions. 

Early  had  moved  around  the  Federal  forces  on  Mary 
land  Heights,  passed  through  the  gaps  in  the  mountains, 
levied  a  heavy  contribution  on  Frederick  City,  and  marched 
toward  Washington.  He  had  nearly  10,000  men.  He 

S84 


EAST  OF  THE  BLUE  RIDGE.  385 

would  capture  the  capital  if  he  could,  and  release  the  pris 
oners  at  Point  Lookout.  He  was  checked  for  a  day  at  the 
Monocacy  by  Wallace  who  had  marched  from  Baltimore 
with  an  inferior  force,  with  no  expectation  of  doing  more 
than  to  delay  the  invader  until  the  Sixth  corps,  from  Peters 
burg,  and  part  of  the  Nineteenth  just  returned  from  New 
Orleans,  could  reach  Washington. 

The  battle  of  Monocacy  was  on  Saturday,  the  9th.  The 
nth,  Early  was  in  front  of  the  fortifications  north  of  the 
capital.  He  found  these  very  strong,  but  they  did  not  seem 
fully  manned.  His  men  were  tired  out  with  their  continu 
ous  marching  in  the  extreme  heat.  He  delayed  making  an 
attack  until  the  next  morning.  There  was  anxiety  in  Wash 
ington.  Clerks  from  the  departments,  convalescents  from 
the  hospitals,  all  available  men  and  boys,  with  what  arms 
they  could  get,  were  hurried  out  to  Fort  Stevens.  It  was 
a  critical  time.  There  was  need  of  a  telegraph  operator 
who  could  be  relied  on  to  stay  at  his  instrument  and  report 
what  was  transpiring.  H.  H.  Atwater,  who  had  been  on 
duty  at  the  Navy  yard,  was  sent.  His  work  called  for  the 
same  courage  as  that  required  of  a  picket  on  a  threatened 
outpost. 

The  stately  home  of  the  Blairs  in  plain  sight  was  in 
flames.  Skirmishers  were  flitting  about  at  skirmishing  dis 
tance.  A  sharpshooter,  in  some  place  of  seeming  security, 
not  easy  to  locate,  had  leisurely  been  counting  off  his  vic 
tims.  Early's  lines  seemed  to  be  getting  into  position  to 
make  an  assault  on  the  scantily  manned  works.  The  Presi 
dent  had  been  out  to  see  the  situation.  He  had  encouraged 
the  men,  assuring  them  that  help  was  coming. 

There  were  delays  in  the  expected  movements.  The 
situation  was  being  reported  by  Atwater  to  the  authorities 
in  the  departments.  He  kept  at  his  key  board,  not  know- 


386  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ing  but  that  at  any  moment  the  Confederates  would  be 
.swarming  over  the  works. 

The  authorities  were  anxiously  watching  for  the  com 
ing  of  the  Sixth  corps,  two  divisions  of  which,  and  a  part 
of  the  Nineteenth,  had  been  hurried  up  from  the  army  be 
fore  Petersburg.  On  a  high  lookout  midway  the  signal 
flags  were  fluttering.  Signal  officers  at  the  front  were  spell 
ing  out  their  messages. 

The  steamers  bringing  the  Sixth  corps  were  at  the 
Seventh  street  landing.  The  troops  had  disembarked.  The 
head  of  the  column  was  in  Georgetown,  and  marching 
rapidly  to  the  front. 

Early  had  had  some  intimations  of  the  coming  of  these 
forces.  His  signal  officers  were  supposed  to  have  read,  or 
guessed  at,  these  messages.  These  forces  would  be  too 
strong  for  him  and  he  hesitated  to  attack.  He  might  gain 
the  works,  but  it  would  be  only  to  be  driven  out. 

Another  thing  happened.  A  large  quantity  of  confis 
cated  whisky  had  been  sold  by  government  officials  to  the 
highest  bidder.  It  had  been  bought  as  an  investment,  and 
stored  in  one  of  these  Maryland  cellars.  The  Confederates 
found  it,  and  thought  themselves  justified  in  appropriating 
it.  Many  of  them,  both  officers  and  enlisted  men,  became, 
for  the  time  being,  unfitted  for  service.  This  was  another 
cause  of  delay  in  making  an  assault.  Washington  wras  safe. 

Early  withdrew  his  army.  Lodged  among  the 
large  branches  of  a  great  tree,  where  doubtless  he  had 
thought  himself  safe,  was  found  the  dead  body  of  the  Con 
federate  sharpshooter.  A  Federal  bullet,  whether  aimed,  or 
fired  at  random,  had  reached  him. 

The  1 4th,  Early  crossed  the  Potomac  at  White's  Ford 
near  Leesburg.  The  First  cavalry  had  been  broken  up  into 
detachments.  Each  detachment  was  acting  with  whatever 
command  was  nearest.  The  largest  detachment  under 


EAST  OF  THE  BLUE  RIDGE.  387 

Major  Quinn  was  a  part  of  Mulligan's  brigade  which  had 
crossed  into  Loudon  county  and  was  now  following  Early. 
Quinn  with  his  detachment  was  at  the  head  of  the  column. 
Lieutenant  Savacool  with  an  advance  guard  of  twenty  men 
was  a  mile  ahead.  At  noon  orders  were  to  halt  for  a  rest. 
But  the  orders  reached  the  advance  guard  too  late.  They 
had  just  run  into  a  wagon  train,  and  were  having  a  tussel 
with  the  escort.  They  soon  got  the  better  of  the  escort,  and 
chased  it  in  a  running  fight  until  they  were  led  up  against 
the  Twenty-first  Virginia  cavalry,  to  which  the  escort  be 
longed.  Here  the  tables  were  turned,  and  the  Virginians 
became  the  pursuers.  In  the  chase  Savacool  was  taken  pris 
oner.  But  now  Quinn  with  his  detachment  appeared  and 
the  conditions  were  reversed.  The  Virginians  were  hotly 
pursued.  Savacool  escaped  from  them  and  got  back  to  his 
own  men.  Several  of  the  men  were  wounded. 

While  being  pursued  some  of  the  horses  of  the  Federals 
were  giving  out,  and  the  men  jumped  off  and  took  to  the 
woods  by  the  roadside.  Carman  and  another  had  been  far 
to  the  front.  Their  horses  were  in  good  condition.  Seeing 
the  situation  they  thought  it  best  to  turn  back.  Just  then 
the  horse  of  his  comrade  was  shot  dead,  and  Carman  was 
left  alone.  He  tried  to  return,  but  his  horse  would  not  go 
back,  and  he  could  not  control  him.  The  horse  reared  upon 
his  hind  feet,  took  a  desperate  plunge  and  ran  right  up  to 
a  Confederate  picket  post  of  a  captain  and  four  men.  Here 
both  horse  and  rider  were  taken  in.  They  were  in  a  piece 
of  woods.  To  the  captain  in  command  Carman  handed  his 
revolver  which  he  had  in  his  hand,  but  which  was  empty. 
He  had  another  in  his  belt  over  which  his  blouse  was  but 
toned.  This  was  loaded,  and  this  he  proposed  to  keep  for 
an  emergency,  should  he  see  a  chance  to  escape.  The  odds 
were  heavy  against  him.  But  soon  some  of  his  regiment 
came  riding  within  range.  These  drew  the  attention  of  the 


388  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

four  men  who,  to  get  a  better  chance  to  fire,  had  gone  a  few 
rods  away.  The  captain,  too,  was  intent  on  getting  a  shot. 
Carman  felt  under  obligations  to  save  his  friends. 
Watching  his  opportunity  he  drew  his  loaded  revolver  from 
under  his  blouse  and  shot  the  captain.  "This  wouldn't  have 
happened  to  you  if  you  had  surrendered  when  I  first  rode 
up  here,"  he  said.  "That  is  so,"  said  the  wounded  captain. 
"Get  a  surgeon  for  me  if  you  can."  Carman  promised  to 
do  so  if  possible.  Then  mounting  the  captain's  fine  horse, 
taking  his  own  and  the  captain's  revolvers,  he  rode  quickly 
back  to  his  own  lines.  Major  Quinn  hailed  him — "Hello, 
Carman,  where  did  you  get  all  those  revolvers?"  He  bor 
rowed  one,  as  he  had  lost  his  own. 

A  few  weeks  later  one  of  this  Virginia  regiment  was 
captured.  He  was  the  only  one  of  his  company  engaged 
in  this  fight,  that  was  living.  The  captain  had  died  from 
his  wound.  This  affair  was  at  Lovettsville. 

Kitchens  of  Company  C,  and  a  few  others,  on  account 
of  the  condition  of  their  horses,  had  been  obliged  to  fall  be 
hind  when  their  company  was  hurrying  on.  They  were 
carrying  a  guidon.  They  encountered  a  squad  of  Confed 
erates  who  hailed  them.  "Where  did  you  get  that  Yankee 
flag?"  "Up  the  road  a  ways."  "You  had  better  not  go 
that  way  much  farther.  The  Yankees  are  down  there  in 
force."  "Oh,  we  are  not  afraid  of  them."  The  Confed 
erates  now  began  to  suspect  that  the  others  were  Federals, 
and  called  upon  them  to  surrender.  They  gave  the  enemy 
the  contents  of  their  carbines  and  revolvers,  and  rode  away 
with  shouts  of  derision.  The  enemy  returned  their  fire, 
but  did  no  harm. 

The  1 5th,  this  force  made  a  vigorous  attack  on  a  de 
tached  body  of  Early' s  cavalry,  driving  them,  and  inflicting 
some  casualties. 

The  next  day,  at  Purcellville,  another  attack  was  made 


EAST  OF  THE  BLUE  RIDGE.  389 

and  a  part  of  Early 's  wagons  were  taken.  The  attacking 
party  followed  him  to  Snicker's  Gap.  The  next  morning  it 
followed  him  through  the  gap  and  fired  a  few  shots  at  his 
rear  as  it  was  crossing  the  river. 

The  1 8th,  this  force  went  through  Upperville  and  Paris 
toward  Ashby's  Gap.  Mosby  was  still  active,  and  that  night 
attacked  a  picket  post  of  the  Twentieth  Pennsylvania  cavalry. 

The  1 9th,  General  DufHe  marched  through  Ashby's 
Gap  expecting  to  cross  the  river.  Captain  Stevenson's 
squadron  was  ordered  across  in  advance,  followed  by  part 
of  the  2Oth  Pennsylvania.  While  crossing  they  were  met 
by  a  volley  of  musketry.  Lieut.  Evans'  horse  was  shot. 
It  was  a  difficult  crossing,  but  the  men  succeeded  in  accomp 
lishing  it,  but  they  had  to  move  along  down  the  river  under 
the  shelter  of  the  bank,  in  order  to  find  a  place  where  they 
could  do  something.  Reaching  high  ground  they  charged 
upon  the  skirmish  line,  making  all  the  noise  they  could.  The 
enemy  broke,  and  the  party,  thinking  they  had  gained  time 
to  get  back  across  the  river,  made  haste  to  do  so.  But  an 
other  squad  concealed  among  some  bushes,  gave  them  a 
volley,  killing  Hugh  McLaughlin  of  Co.  C,  a  brave  fellow, 
and  killing  or  disabling  several  horses. 

General  Duffie's  force  in  the  gap  had  been  forced  back 
by  the  enemy's  artillery.  But  now  he  had  brought  up  his 
own  guns  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  retire  somewhat, 
while  the  men  who  had  first  crossed  the  stream  and  had 
been  scattered  in  their  desperate  situation,  got  back  to  their 
regiment.  Sergeants  Lumphrey,  Hall  and  Pitman,  as  well 
as  Captain  Stevenson,  had  been  in  close  quarters,  and  had 
shown  remarkable  alertness  as  well  as  courage  before  supe 
rior  numbers. 

A  squadron  of  the  Twenty-first  New  York  was  sent 
across  the  river.  It  ran  against  the  enemy,  and  in  a  sharp 
fight  lost  a  number  of  men. 


390  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  2  ist,  the  detachment  of  the  regiment  that  had  been 
moving  around  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  returned  to  Snicker's 
Gap  and  became  a  part  of  the  forces  under  General  Crook. 
The  22nd,  this  army  marched  through  the  gap  and  across 
the  Valley  to  Winchester,  and  rested  a  mile  or  so  south  of 
the  town. 

Lieut.  Col.  Adams  had  not  accompanied  the  regiment 
on  Hunter's  expedition.  He  had  now  been  commissioned 
colonel  in  the  place  of  Colonel  McReynolds  who  had  been 
mustered  out  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  and 
was  in  command  of  the  regiment. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
THE  LOWER  VALLEY. 

BEFORE  going  up  the  Valley  Mrs.  Britain,  wife  of  the 
wagoner  of  Co.  B,  was  intrusted  with  the  care  of 
various  things  belonging  to  the  men  of  the  company.  These 
she  had  saved  by  burying  them. 

Sigel  in  withdrawing  took  with  him  all  those  in  the 
hospital  who  could  travel.  But  there  were  about  fifty 
wounded  men  who  could  not  be  taken.  These  were  moved 
into  one  of  the  churches,  and  were  in  the  care  of  a  surgeon 
of  the  2  ist  New  York,  La  Peltier e.  The  nurses  who 
should  have  stayed  with  him  left.  He  could  not  help  say 
ing,  "Look  at  all  those  cowards.  They  leave  me  here  alone 
with  these  dying  men.''  Fiala  of  Co.  E  had  been  in  the 
hospital  for  some  weeks,  from  a  serious  swelling  on  one  of 
his  legs,  but  he  was  now  recovered.  His  character  was  al 
ways  to  be  faithful  to  the  duty  that  was  nearest  at  hand, 
and  he  volunteered  to  remain  and  help  the  doctor. 

Soon  after  noon  General  Breckinridge  entered  the  town, 
and  with  some  of  his  staff  came  into  the  church.  As  he 
entered  he  took  off  his  hat  and  looked  around.  He  paroled 
all  that  were  here.  His  ways  were  those  of  a  gentleman. 
Soon  after  he  left  some  of  his  men  looked  through  the  cellar 
and  took  all  the  supplies  they  could  find.  Only  some  medi 
cines  that  had  been  hidden  under  the  altar  were  left.  The 
matter  was  reported  to  Breckinridge  who  compelled  the  mis- 

391 


392  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

creants  to  bring  back  what  they  had  taken.  But  as  Breckin- 
ridge  passed  on,  another  command  came,  and  the  robbery 
was  repeated.  The  ladies  of  the  place  saw  what  was  done, 
and  as  soon  as  the  last  of  the  Confederates  had  passed  on, 
they  came  to  ask  what  they  could  do.  Learning  the  situa 
tion,  they  immediately  brought  bread,  biscuits,  coffee  and 
tea.  For  six  weeks  and  more,  until  the  enemy  had  left  for 
good,  did  these  women  of  Martinsburg  continue  to  supply 
necessaries  and  delicacies,  so  far  as  they  could,  to  these  fifty 
wounded  men.  Their  devotion  should  be  recorded  in  the 
brightest  pages  of  the  history  of  the  war. 

Scouting  parties  were  every  day  passing  through. 
Some  of  them  treated  the  hospital  attendants  cruelly ;  others 
protected  them.  When  finally  they  fell  back  they  had  with 
them  a  large  number  of  one  hundred-days  men  as  prisoners, 
.a  forlorn  multitude.  They  marched  continuously  and 
rapidly.  Many  deserted  by  hiding  in  the  town. 

When  the  regiment  finally  entered  the  place  Fiala  re 
joined  his  company. 

The  Confederates  were  supposed  to  be  about  Win 
chester.  The  night  of  the  I2th,  a  scout  went  out  under 
Captain  Jones,  with  Valentine  in  charge  of  the  advance. 
Night  scouting  required  nerve  and  promptness.  The  cap 
tain's  instructions  to  Valentine  were  brief :  "When  you  are 
•challenged,  don't  answer,  but  fire  and  rush  upon  them." 
The  instructions  were  obeyed,  and  at  Bunker  Hill  Valentine 
.and  his  advance  came  upon  Lieut.  Cathcart  and  four  others 
who  were  prisoners  before  they  were  hardly  aware  of  what 
had  happened. 

It  had  come  to  pass  that  there  were  no  exemptions  on 
account  of  profession.  Blacksmith  Tom  Casey  was  one  of 
the  advance.  In  this  night  melee  he  could  not  help  observ 
ing,  "This  is  a  loikly  position  for  a  mechanic." 

Day  after  day  parties  were  out  in  all  directions.     The 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  393 

railroad  was  repaired  so  that  cars  from  the  west  ran  into 
Martinsburg.  Forces  came,  and  moved  on.  Men  of  the 
regiment  had  been  captured  and  escaped  with  all  kinds  of 
adventures.  One  had  escaped  in  woman's  clothing.  While 
a  part  of  the  regiment  was  in  Martinsburg  other  detach 
ments  were  about  Harper's  Ferry  and  in  Maryland.  There 
had  been  great  activity  in  the  movements  of  detachments  of 
both  armies,  and  these  were  constantly  coming  into  collision. 
For  some  depredations  by  the  enemy,  retaliation  was  threat 
ened.  Orders  were  given  for  the  burning  of  the  Faulkner 
residence  in  the  belief  that  from  here  information  and  aid 
had  been  furnished  to  the  enemy.  Through  some  interces 
sion  the  execution  of  the  order  was  postponed. 

Captain  Martindale  had  been  busy  about  Charlestown. 
By  the  direct  and  positive  orders  of  General  Hunter,  he,  on 
the  1 7th,  set  fire  to  the  elegant  residence  of  Andrew  Hunter, 
the  general's  own  cousin,  a  prominent  citizen  and  lawyer, 
who  had  been  one  of  the  attorneys  for  the  prosecution  in 
the  trial  of  John  Brown.  The  house  of  a  Mrs.  Lee,  another 
relative,  at  Sheperdstown,  and  that  of  A.  R.  Boteler  were 
also  burned.  It  might  be  a  legitimate  act  of  war  to  destroy 
supplies  that  would  support  an  enemy.  But  Hunter's  burn 
ing  of  residences  was  condemned  in  the  strongest  terms  by 
the  men  of  his  command. 

A  few  weeks  later  the  Liverpool  (England)  Courier 
published  the  following  letter  addressed  to  the  Federal  com 
mander  by  the  wife  of  the  gentleman  whose  house  was 
burned.  The  letter  was  republished  in  the  New  York  Ex 
press  of  November  8,  1864. 

Shepherdstown,  Va.,  July  18,  1864. 

General  Hunter: — Yesterday  your  underling,  Captain  Martindale, 
of  the  First  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  executed  your  infamous  order  and  burned 
my  house.  You  have  had  the  satisfaction  ere  this  of  receiving  from 
him  the  information  that  your  orders  were  fulfilled  to  the  letter,  the 
dwelling  and  every  outbuilding,  with  their  contents,  being  burned.  I, 


394  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

therefore,  a  helpless  woman,  whom  you  have  cruelly  wronged,  ad 
dress  you,  a  major  general  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  and  demand  why  this 
was  done. 

My  husband  was  absent,  an  exile.  He  has  never  been  a  politician, 
or  in  any  way  engaged  in  the  struggle  now  going  on,  his  age  pre 
venting.  This  fact  David  Strother,  your  chief  of  staff,  could  have  told 
you.  The  house  was  built  by  my  father,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  who 
served  the  whole  seven  years  for  your  independence.  Here  was  I 
born;  there  the  sacred  dead  repose;  it  was  my  house  and  my  home; 
and  there  has  your  niece,  who  lived  with  us  all  this  horrid  war, 
up  to  this  present  moment,  met  with  all  kindness  and  hospitality  at 
my  hands. 

Was  it  for  this  that  you  have  turned  me,  my  young  daughter  and 
little  son  out  upon  the  world  without  a  shelter?  Or  was  it  because 
my  husband  is  the  grandson  of  the  Revolutionary  patriot  and  rebel, 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  and  the  near  kinsman  of  the  noblest  of  Christian 
warriors,  the  greatest  of  generals,  Robert  E.  Lee?  Heaven's  blessing 
be  upon  his  head  forever!  You  and  your  government  have  failed  to 
conquer,  subdue,  or  match  him;  and  disappointed  rage  and  malice 
find  vent  upon  the  helpless  and  inoffensive. 

Hyena-like,  you  have  torn  my  heart  to  pieces;  for  all  hallowed 
memories  clustered  around  that  homestead — and,  demon-like,  you 
have  done  it  without  even  the  pretext  of  revenge;  for  I  never  saw 
or  harmed  you.  Your  office  is  not  to  lead,  like  a  brave  man  and 
soldier,  your  men  to  fight  in  the  ranks  of  war;  but  your  work  has 
been  to  separate  yourself  from  all  danger,  and,  with  your  incendiary 
band,  steal  unawares  upon  helpless  women  and  children,  to  insult  and 
to  destroy.  Two  fair  homes  did  you  yesterday  lay  in  ashes,  giving  not 
a  moment's  warning  to  the  startled  inmates  of  your  wicked  purpose; 
turning  mothers  and  children  out  of  doors;  your  name  execrated  by 
your  own  men  for  the  cruel  work  you  have  given  them  to  do. 

In  the  case  of  A.  R.  Boteler,  both  father  and  mother  were  far 
away.  Any  heart  but  that  of  Captain  Martindale  (and  yours)  would 
have  been  touched  by  that  little  circle,  comprising  a  widowed  daughter 
just  risen  from  her  bed  of  illness,  her  three  little  fatherless  babes — the 
eldest  not  five  years  old — and  her  heroic  sister.  I  repeat,  any  man 
would  have  been  touched  at  that  sight.  But  Captain  Martindale — 
one  might  as  well  hope  to  find  mercy  and  feeling  in  the  heart  of  a 
wolf  bent  on  its  prey  of  young  lambs,  as  to  search  for  such  qualities 
in  his  bosom.  You  have  chosen  well  your  man  for  such  deeds;  doubt 
less  you  will  promote  him. 

A  colonel  of  the  Federal  army  has  stated  that  you  deprived  forty 
of  your  officers  of  their  commands  because  they  refused  to  carry  out 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  395 

your  malignant  mischief.  All  honor  to  their  names  for  this,  at  least. 
They  are  men;  they  have  human  hearts,  and  blush  for  such  a  com 
mander. 

I  ask,  who  that  does  not  wish  infamy  and  disgrace  attached  to 
him  would  serve  under  you?  Your  name  will  stand  on  history's  page 
as  the  Hunter  of  weak  women  and  innocent  children;  the  Hunter  to 
destroy  defenceless  villages  and  refined  and  beautiful  homes;  to  tor 
ture  afresh  the  agonized  hearts  of  suffering  widows;  the  Hunter  of 
Africa's  poor  sons  and  daughters;  to  lure  them  on  to  ruin  of  soul  and 
body;  the  Hunter  with  the  relentless  heart  of  a  wild  beast,  the  face  of 
a  fiend,  and  the  form  of  a  man.  Oh,  Earth,  behold  the  monster! 

Can  I  say,  "God  forgive  you?"  No  prayer  can  be  offered  for  you. 
Were  it  possible  for  human  lips  to  raise  your  name  heavenward,  angels 
would  thrust  it  back  again  and  demons  claim  their  own.  The  curses 
of  thousands,  the  scorn  of  the  manly  and  upright,  and  the  hatred  of 
the  true  and  honorable,  will  follow  you  and  yours  through  all  time 
and  brand  your  name  Infamy  !  Infamy  ! 

Again  I  demand,  why  have  you  burned  my  house?  Answer,  as 
you  must  answer  before  the  Searcher  of  all  hearts,  why  have  you 
added  this  cruel,  wicked  deed  to  your  many  crimes? 

The  i Qth,  there  was  a  reconnoissance  in  force  from 
Martinsburg  toward  Winchester.  Crook  was  fighting  near 
Berryville. 

The  2Oth,  just  before  night,  Averell  with  cavalry  and 
infantry,  fought  Ramseur  three  miles  this  side  of  Win 
chester,  losing  two  hundred,  but  taking  four  cannon  and  in 
flicting  a  loss  of  four  hundred. 

The  2  ist,  a  hundred  men  went  from  Martinsburg,  pass 
ing  over  the  battlefield  of  the  day  before,  halting  to  watch 
the  burying  of  the  dead,  and  were  posted  as  an  advanced 
lookout  several  miles  out  on  the  Romney  road.  The  22nd, 
Averell  was  fighting  at  Newtown.  The  post  on  the  Rom 
ney  road  was  withdrawn.  After  breakfast  in  a  meadow  at 
the  Hayfield  house,  twenty  men  went  back  with  a  train. 
The  rest  went  out  on  the  Romney  road  as  a  picket,  keeping 
their  horses  saddled  and  themselves  on  the  alert. 

The  23rd,  there  was  fighting  at  Kernstown.     A  long 


396  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

line  of  battle  was  formed.  Colonel  Adams  with  a  part  of 
the  regiment  made  a  bold  dash  at  the  enemy,  driving  them. 
McGinness  of  Company  B  had  his  fine  mare  shot,  but  he 
captured  a  splendid  stallion  from  the  enemy. 

Toward  night  all  became  quiet.  Captain  Jones  with  his 
squadron,  Companies  A  and  C,  went  out  to  reinforce  the 
men  on  picket  and  patrol  on  the  roads  west  of  the  town. 

The  24th,  there  was  continual  skirmishing  at  Kerns- 
town.  Pickets  and  patrols  were  vigilant.  All  day  long 
was  that  incessant,  scattering  fire  along  the  whole  front. 
Toward  night  the  enemy  came  on  in  force.  Our  lines  were 
compelled  to  fall  back.  Breckinridge  had  got  around  the 
left,  and  making  a  vigorous  attack,  doubled  up  that  end  of 
the  line  and  forced  it  back  toward  the  center.  The  enemy's 
skirmishers — a  long  line  of  them — were  pressing  forward. 
Captain  Jones  sent  a  sergeant  off  to  the  hills  to  the  west  to 
bring  in  a  patrol  on  the  Pughtown  road.  The  sergeant  had 
to  be  quick.  He  reached  the  patrol,  but  could  not  get  back 
to  rejoin  the  captain.  The  Confederate  skirmish  line  was 
already  sweeping  across  the  road.  He  moved  along  the 
ridge  from  which  he  could  look  down  upon  the  plain.  All 
across  the  wide  fields  were  streams  of  men,  on  foot,  on 
horseback,  hurrying  to  the  rear.  There  was  the  tumult  of 
wagons  and  artillery  driven  rapidly  along  the  stone  pike. 
Fences  were  thrown  down  to  make  room.  There  were  the 
shouting  and  swearing  of  drivers  and  the  braying  of  mules. 
The  enemy  was  hurrying  on  in  pursuit.  Clouds  of  dust 
were  rising,  and  the  darkness  was  fast  coming  on.  Wagons 
were  abandoned,  drivers  cutting  the  traces  of  the  harness  in 
their  haste  to  escape.  The  retreat  became  a  stampede.  At 
Bunker  Hill  the  retreat  was  checked. 

During  some  of  the  active  operations  of  the  last  few 
days,  some  one,  a  friend  of  Savacool's,  had  been  captured. 
Savacool  with  a  small  party  was  pushing  away  ahead  trying 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  397 

to  see  a  chance  to  recapture  his  friend.  But  he  became 
separated  from  the  rest  of  his  party,  and  was  himself  cap 
tured.  His  arms  were  taken  from  him,  but  he  gave  his 
captors  considerable  trouble.  Some  of  the  regiment  were 
making  strenuous  efforts  to  recapture  him.  These  crowded 
the  Confederates  so  closely  that  the  latter,  in  order  to  save 
themselves,  had  to  let  Savacool  go,  and  three  of  their  own 
number  were  taken. 

This  last  day  at  Winchester  Savacool  was  carrying  an 
order  from  Crook  to  Averell  when  a  solid  shot  took  off  a 
hind  leg  of  his  horse.  He  was  riding  so  fast  that  the  horse 
kept  right  on  a  considerable  distance  on  three  legs  before 
Savacool  became  aware  of  what  had  happened.  He  had 
three  horses  shot  under  him  that  day. 

July  25 — At  Bunker  Hill.  A  cold,  rainy  morning. 
Make  a  kettle  of  strong  coffee  and  drink  heartily.  The 
army  falling  back  again.  To  Martinsburg.  A  hard  rain. 
Get  drenched.  Find  most  of  the  regiment  in  Faulkner's 
woods.  Clears  off  very  warm.  Confederates  coming  on. 
Skirmishing.  Captain  Jones  leads  us  around  watching  for 
a  chance  to  strike  a  blow.  Check  the  Confederates  for 
awhile  and  drive  them  back  a  little.  Wait  in  line  in  a  corn 
field  just  north  of  the  town.  Some  artillery  hidden  in  the 
woods  gets  the*  range  and  fires  shot  after  shot.  Captain 
Jones  sits  on  his  horse  in  front,  cool  and  unconcerned.  With 
out  giving  an  order,  or  even  looking  around,  he  holds  the 
line  as  steady  as  if  there  were  no  shells  or  solid  shot  passing 
over  our  heads,  or  throwing  up  showers  of  dirt  as  they 
strike  the  earth  before  and  behind  us.  Still  he  sits  there 
almost  motionless,  griping  his  sabre  with  his  right  hand,  but 
letting  it  rest  across  his  left  forearm,  ready  for  instant  use. 
It  is  suspected  that  he  wants  a  chance  at  those  guns.  The 
men,  too,  sit  quiet,  watching  now  the  captain,  and  now  the 
bursts  of  flame  and  blue  smoke,  that  are  instantly  followed 


398  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

by  the  infernal  whir-r-r  and  shriek  of  shot  and  shell.  At  a 
sign  from  him  they  are  ready  to  spring  for  those  cannon. 
It  is  an  exhibition  of  indefinable  power — this  holding  men 
silent,  almost  motionless,  without  a  visible  tremor,  watching 
without  flinching  those  messengers  of  death  that  every  in 
stant  are  being  hurled  at  them.  A  conical  shell  strikes  the 
front  rank  of  Company  B  obliquely.  It  bores  a  hole  through 
the  head  of  one  horse  just  below  the  eyes,  passes  through 
the  neck  of  another,  and  explodes  right  behind  the  shoulder 
of  the  third,  tearing  its  side  all  open.  Pearl,  Garland  and 
Winans  are  wounded.  Three  horses  drop  dead,  and  others 
are  struck  by  fragments  of  the  shell.  But  the  line,  a  little  dis 
turbed  for  a  minute  in  the  ranks  of  Company  B,  remains 
firm. 

But  the  battery  in  the  woods  on  the  hill  is  strongly 
posted  and  well  supported.  The  risk  is  too  great,  the  chance 
too  small.  With  evident  reluctance  the  captain  gives  up 
the  hope  of  making  a  successful  charge,  and  withdraws  the 
regiment  out  of  range.* 

Fall  back  during  the  night,  halting  near  morning  near 
Williamsport  ford. 

July  26,  ford  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport.  March 
down  the  Maryland  side.  Over  Antietam  battle  ground 
once  more.  Rest  in  the  woods  where  we  encamped  last  fall. 
Confederates  across  the  river. 


*The  situation  recalls  a  story  told  of  General  "Pap"  Thomas.  He 
was  riding  along  a  part  of  his  line  upon  which  some  artillery  was  play 
ing.  To  a  colonel  whose  regiment  was  in  line  he  said:  "Colonel,  I 
want  those  guns,  and  I  want  them  bad."  The  colonel  turned  to  his 
regiment  and  said:  "Men,  the  old  man  says  he  wants  those  guns,  and 
wants  them  bad."  A  tall,  awkward  man  spoke  out  from  the  ranks: 
"Wa-a-1,  if  the  ol'  man  wants  them  guns,  an'  wants  'em  bad,  he  orter 
to  have  'em.  I  move  we  chip  in  an'  buy  'em  for  him,  for  it  looks 
mighty  dangerous  up  there." 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  399 

July  27,  wait  till  the  wagon  train  is  well  on  its  way. 
March  slowly  to  the  Ferry  and  a  mile  past  Sandy  Hook. 
Stop  in  Pleasant  Valley.  Horses  getting  worn  out. 

July  28,  stay  quietly  in  camp.  Efforts  to  muster  out 
the  men  who  did  not  re-enlist.  Busy  drawing  stores  till  late 
at  night. 

General  Duffie  was  a  Frenchman,  somewhat  impulsive 
and  excitable,  possibly  a  little  too  much  so  to  plan  coolly. 
He  was  brave  enough  as  a  fighter,  but  at  times  became  im 
patient  when  things  were  not  done  to  his  liking.  Once,  in 
preparing  to  make  a  charge  where  the  situation  looked  a 
little  desperate,  he  encouraged  (?)  his  men,  who  were  mostly 
little  more  than  boys,  by  saying:  "You  all  have  got  to  die 
sometime  anyway.  If  you  die  now  you  won't  have  to  die 
again.  Forward !"  His  charge  was  successful. 

In  taking  a  new  command  he  would  say :  ''You  no  like 
me  now.  You  like  me  bye  and  bye."  The  American 
volunteers  were  not  exactly  adapted  to  the  strict,  precise 
drill  of  the  French  army.  Dufrie  was  exacting,  at  times 
irritable.  He  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  men  of  the  First 
cavalry.  He  scolded.  They  retorted  by  calling  him  a  frog- 
eater,  and  other  names  more  pertinent  than  respectful.  He 
gave  orders  that  the  regiment  be  dismounted,  and  their 
horses  turned  over  to  other  regiments,  but  General  Hunter 
did  not  approve  the  order.  The  regiment  soon  came  under 
the  command  of  the  more  genial,  and  just  as  successful, 
Averell. 

Early  on  the  29th,  the  regiment  crossed  the  Potomac, 
and  beyond  Halltown  halted  in  a  hot,  weedy,  shadeless  field. 
While  waiting  here  one  man  started  across  lots  to  call  upon 
a  family  whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  through  errands 
for  an  attorney  \vho  had  charge  of  their  interests  in  the 
North.  Beyond  some  heavy  woods  was  a  low  meadow 
land.  Beyond  this,  along  a  road  were  a  number  of  men, 


400  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

whether  Federals  or  Confederates  he  could  not  tell.  They 
seemed  to  increase  in  number  and  activity.  It  seemed 
hardly  probable  that  they  could  be  enemies,  so  many  and  so 
near  our  forces.  Riding  cautiously  down  a  lane  in  the  edge 
of  the  woods  the  horseman  came  to  the  cottage  of  the  over 
seer  of  the  farm.  Fifteen  or  twenty  rods  farther  on,  in  a 
thick  grove  of  walnut  trees  was  the  family  residence.  The 
wife  of  the  overseer  was  busy  about  the  door.  Bidding  her 
"Good  morning,"  calling  her  by  name,  he  asked :  "Are  there 
any  southern  soldiers  around  here?"  "None  that  I  know 
of,"  was  the  reply.  It  was  sometimes  convenient  for  people 
not  to  know  anything  that  was  not  at  that  instant  in  the 
field  of  vision.  They  would  look  another  way,  and  not 
know7.  The  answer  was  not  satisfactory.  Glancing  over 
his  shoulder  at  those  strange  men,  he  asked  again :  "How 
are  the  people  up  at  the  house?"  "Why,  they  are  pretty 
well.  Who  are  you?"  "A  friend  of  the  family,  but  it  is 
some  time  since  I  have  been  here."  "Are  you  Mr.  B — ?" 
"Yes."  "Are  you,  truly?"  "Yes,  truly."  "Then  I'll  tell 
you  the  truth.  There  were  a  dozen  or  more  right  here  just 
a  bit  ago,  and  they  are  in  the  grove  up  around  the  house 
now."  "Thank  you."  Not  Harvey  Birch,  the  "Spy  of  the 
Neutral  Ground,"  guiding  the  disguised  British  officer  away 
from  the  guard  house  where  he  had  been  held  under  sentence 
of  death  as  a  spy,  moved  more  carefully  than  did  this  cav 
alryman  to  avoid  attracting  the  notice  of  the  enemy  who 
were  in  plain  sight  of  him.  Trying  to  make  himself  in 
visible,  with  seeming  carelessness  he  slowly  guided  his  mare 
over  the  softest  parts  of  the  grassy  lane  until  he  was  around 
the  corner  of  those  woods.  There  might  be  some  credit  in 
being  captured  while  acting  under  orders ;  but  while  scout 
ing  on  private  account,  none  whatever. 

July  30,  all  men  with  serviceable  horses  go  out  with 
Duffie  on  a  wide  circuit,  coming  back  in  the  rear  of  Charles- 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  401 

town,  bringing  in  two  captives.  Find  the  entire  force  mov 
ing.  Back  to  Harper's  Ferry.  Cross  the  river  on  the  pon 
toon  bridge.  March  till  late  at  night  and  halt  at  Knoxville. 
July  31 — Sunday.  On  the  march  early,  following  the 
infantry  and  wagons.  Major  Stearns  commanding  the  regi 
ment.  The  warmest  day  of  the  summer.  Slow  marching. 
Tired  and  sun-struck  infantry.  Have  heard  church  bells  all 
along  the  day's  march.  Through  Middletown,  where  we 
rested  at  noon  on  the  day  of  Antietam.  Halt  late  in  the 
afternoon  in  a  clean  meadow  beside  running  water,  near 
Bellsville. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
THE  PURSUIT  OF  McCAUSLAND. 

THE  detachments  that  had  been  carrying  on  their  active 
campaigns  separately  were  together  at  Winchester, 
July  24;  at  Martinsburg  the  25th,  and  across  the  Potomac, 
at  Knoxville,  the  3Oth.  Early  followed.  In  retaliation  for 
Hunter's  burning  he  sent  McCausland  to  Chambersburg. 
Under  his  instructions  that  general  arrested  the  leading  men 
of  the  place  and  required  that  they  raise  $500,000  in  U.  S. 
paper  money,  or  $100,000  in  gold.  As  it  was  not  possible 
for  them  to  raise  this  amount,  the  place  was  burned,  July 
30,  after  the  soldiers  had  helped  themselves  to  whatever  they 
could  find  in  the  stores.  The  report  of  this  reached  the 
regiment  at  Bellsville  the  3ist. 

August  i,  marched  without  breakfast  to  Wolfsville. 
Very  warm.  Halt  till  6  p.m.,  then  march  rapidly  till  long 
after  dark.  Smithsburg. 

August  2,  through  Hagerstown  to  Clear  Spring,  eigh 
teen  miles. 

August  3,  an  early  start.  Look  over  the  Valley  again 
from  Fair  View.  Within  five  miles  of  Hancock,  then  back 
to  Licking  creek.  McCausland  proposed  to  burn  some  more 
towns,  but  his  Maryland  men  objected.  Rest  at  Cherry  Run 
ford.  Pickets  ordered  to  be  on  the  alert. 

August  4,  pickets  called  in  at  2  130.  Very  dark  morn 
ing.  Unserviceable  horses  sent  back.  March  without 


402 


THE  PURSUIT  OF  MCCAUSLAND.  403 

breakfast.  A  minute's  halt  in  front  of  a  house  with  door  to 
the  breakfast  room  open.  Table  set  for  breakfast.  Mess 
mate,  Dick,  slips  off  his  horse  and  into  the  house;  in  a  mo 
ment  he  is  back  in  the  ranks  with  a  huge  loaf  of  bread,  and 
there  was  no  one  there  whom  he  could  ask  for  it.  Can't 
wait.  Time  as  well  as  bread  is  valuable.  We  imagine  the 
family's  surprise,  but  enjoy  the  bread  none  the  less.  March 
till  II  p.m.,  thirty-five  miles,  and  stop  on  North  Fork  of 
Sleepy  creek. 

August  5,  march  at  daylight.  Through  the  Bloomery. 
Halt  an  hour  between  Great  Capon  and  North  rivers.  Get 
ting  on  familiar  ground  that  we  scouted  over  nearly  two 
years  ago.  Stop  on  Conrad  Long's  farm  on  the  South 
Branch.  Good  foraging,  twenty-nine  miles. 

August  6 — Saturday.  Up  early.  Draw  rations.  Halt 
a  little  while  in  Springfield.  People  seem  glad  to  see  us. 
Move  on.  Find  the  wire  bridge  destroyed.  Ford  the  river. 
Two  of  the  boys  go  for  a  fine  stallion.  They  have  some 
thing  of  a  skirmish  with  the  women  of  the  farm,  but  they 
get  the  horse.  General  Averell  sends  an  orderly  to  demand 
the  horse.  "Catch  him,  then,"  says  one  of  the  boys,  as  he 
slips  the  bridle  off  and  turns  the  horse  loose.  Halt  an  hour 
at  Romney.  Through  the  gap  to  Mill  Creek  Junction,  and 
up  the  creek  till  late  at  night  To  rest  two  hours.  Thir 
teen  miles  beyond  Romney;  twenty-three  miles. 

August  7 — Sunday.  Up  and  on  the  march  an  hour 
after  midnight.  The  regiment  having  had  the  advance  yes 
terday,  takes  the  rear  to-day.  Sorry,  for  we  expect  to  be  up 
with  McCausland  to-day,  and  his  men  are  loaded  with  booty. 
The  enemy's  pickets  captured  before  daylight.  Hurry  on. 
The  advance  takes  the  camp  by  surprise,  and  routs  the  en 
emy  completely.  Other  regiments  hurried  off  to  right  and 
left.  The  First  hurried  across  the  river  and  up  the  road 
a  mile  or  more.  A  small  party  of  rebels  ahead  of  us. 


4-04  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Major  Gibson  of  the  i^th  Pennsylvania  orders  us  forward. 
Find  a  whole  brigade  in  line  of  battle.  Too  late  to  go  back. 
Go  forward  in  a  wild  charge.  The  enemy  break  and  flee. 
We  follow  them  until  they  are  out  of  reach.  On  picket  till 
late  in  the  afternoon.  Move  back  within  twelve  miles  of 
Moorefield,  and  halt  at  dark;  twenty-eight  miles. 

These  entries  in  a  diary,  made  at  the  time,  could  not 
give  all  the  details  of  this  affair. 

July  30,  the  regiment  was  at  Knoxville,  Md.  The 
Confederates  were  in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  This 
day  McCausland  burned  Chambersburg.  The  regiment  had 
marched  and  counter  marched  until  horses  and  men  were 
well-nigh  worn  out.  There  was  confusion,  and  uncertainty 
as  to  what  the  real  situation  was.  General  Grant  asked 
Hunter  where  the  enemy  was,  and  Hunter  replied  that  he 
did  not  know. 

McCausland  at  Chambersburg  had  his  own  brigade  and 
that  of  General  Bradley  T.  Johnson,  in  all  about  2,600  men. 
General  Averell  now  received  orders  direct  from  Washing 
ton,  it  was  said,  to  follow  and  fight  McCausland.  So  severe 
had  been  the  service  that,  leaving  out  disabled  horses,  he 
could  muster  only  about  1,300  men,  a  brigade  of  900  under 
Col.  W.  H.  Powell,  of  West  Virginia,  and  one  of  400  under 
Major  Gibson  of  the  I4th  Pennsylvania.  With  part  of  this 
force  he  was  in  Chambersburg  three  hours  after  McCaus 
land  had  left.  The  pursuit  was  prompt.  There  was  a  fight 
with  the  rear  guard  at  Hancock.  McCausland  moved  on 
toward  Cumberland  where  General  Kelly  had  a  strong  force. 
He  turned  back  and  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Oldtown. 
Averell  crossed  near  Hancock  and,  sending  back  more  worn 
out  horses,  hastened  on  through  Springfield  and  Romney. 
The  weather  was  very  warm,  but  the  march  was  kept  up 
day  and  night,  with  brief  halts  for  feeding  and  rest.  The 


THE  PURSUIT  OF  MCCAUSLAND.  405 

evening  of  August  6th,  the  command  halted  on  Mill  Creek, 
thirteen  miles  south  of  Romney.  Captain  William  Rumsey, 
A.  A.  A.  G.,  later  Judge  Rumsey,  of  the  New  York  Supreme 
Court,  a  gallant  soldier,  prompt  in  action,  and  emphatic  in 
speech,  was  posting  the  pickets  when  an  elderly  citizen  rode 
into  the  lines  and  asked  to  see  General  Averell,  saying  he  had 
a  message  for  him  from  General  McCausland.  Being  taken 
to  Averell,  he  said :  "Gen.  McCausland  sends  you  his  com 
pliments,  and  says  if  you  will  come  on  to  Moorefield  he  will 
lick  you  out  of  your  boots."  Averell  replied:  "He  won't 
do  anything  of  the  kind.'' 

The  men  went  to  rest  as  if  for  the  night,  but  were  up 
and  ready  to  start  shortly  after  midnight.  Few  generals 
had  more  active  and  reliable  scouts  than  had  Averell.  Call 
ing  his  leading  officers  together  he  informed  them  about 
where  the  two  brigades  of  the  enemy  were  encamped,  and 
gave  minute  instructions.  The  column  moved  forward  sev 
eral  miles  and  halted.  The  general  himself,  taking  Captain 
T.  R.  Kerr  of  the  I4th  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  a  few 
picked  men,  went  forward  stealthily  on  foot  and  captured 
the  two  mounted  videttes.  From  these  they  learned  where 
the  reserve  picket  was,  and  that  it  was  in  charge  of  Lieut. 
Carter.  Captain  Kerr,  taking  fifteen  mounted  men,  made 
a  wide  detour,  striking  the  road  beyond  the  picket  and  ap 
proaching  it  from  the  direction  of  Moorefield.  When  near 
the  picket  he  was  challenged,  and  answered :  "Relief." 
Then  dismounting  his  men,  Kerr  asked:  "Where  is  your 
picket,  Mr.  Carter?"  "Under  a  tree  here  in  the  field,"  was 
the  reply.  "Any  straw?"  "Plenty."  Keeping  up  a  con 
versation  Kerr  and  his  men  moved  around  the  tree  under 
which  the  men  were  sleeping,  and  taking  their  arms  which 
were  leaning  against  the  tree,  passed  them  out  of  the  way. 
"Any  news,  Mr.  Carter?"  "No;  none  of  our  scouts  have 
come  in  lately.  The  last  we  heard  of  Averell  he  was  com- 


406  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ing  on  this  side  of  Romney."  Then,  noticing  Kerr's  move 
ments  he  asked:  ''What's  your  hurry?  What  do  you 
want?  Who  are  you?"  Kerr  replied:  "We're  Yanks, 
and  want  you !"  Carter  exclaimed,  "My  God !  Averell's 
here!"  After  a  little  demonstration  he  surrendered.  In 
the  meantime  the  column  had  moved  forward,  and  Averell 
himself  coming  forward  said :  "Mr.  Carter,  I  am  General 
Averell,  and  I  think  you  are  not  to  blame  for  this.  General 
McCausland  ought  not  to  have  placed  you  five  or  six  miles 
out  here  when  he  knew  I  was  coming  near  at  hand."  Carter, 
blaming  himself  instead  of  McCausland,  said:  "Oh,  it  is 
not  so  far  as  that — not  more  than  two  or  three  miles." 
"Well,"  said  Averell,  "then  he  ought  to  have  sent  out  patrols 
once  in  a  while  to  see  if  you  were  all  right."  "He  has  done 
that,  and  I  thought  this  was  a  patrol  when  I  heard  it 
coming." 

Leaving  the  prisoners  under  guard,  and  moving  in 
toward  the  camp,  they  met  the  unsuspecting  patrol  coming 
out,  and  captured  it  entire.  The  road  was  now  clear,  and 
the  entire  command  moved  rapidly  forward.  It  was  now 
near  daylight.  A  heavy  fog  had  befriended  Averell,  inter 
fering  with  the  enemy's  hearing  as  well  as  seeing. 

The  command  in  three  columns,  one  in  the  road  and 
one  on  each  side,  Powell  leading  one  and  Averell  another, 
was  riding  over  the  camp  before  the  Confederates,  some  of 
whom  were  lazily  beginning  to  get  up,  could  know  what  was 
being  done.  Captain  Rumsey,  riding  at  the  head  of  one  of 
the  columns,  came  upon  a  vidette,  one  oi  a  line  of  videttes 
posted  some  distance  in  front  of  the  camp.  He  was  sitting 
on  his  horse,  holding  the  reins  in  his  left  hand,  his  cocked 
revolver  in  his  right,  a  slouch  hat  on  his  head,  a  blanket 
pinned  with  a  thorn  over  his  shoulders,  with  both  mouth 
and  eyes  wide  open.  He  sat  there  without  moving  a  mus 
cle  until  our  men  were  right  upon  him.  Even  then  he  did 


THE  PURSUIT  OF  MCCAUSLAND.  407 

not  stir,  but  looked  at  the  men  and  said :  "Good  mawnin'." 
The  captain  did  not  have  time  to  stop  and  exchange  greet 
ings  with  him.  He  was  a  very  civil  enemy,  and  did  not  in 
the  least  try  to  hinder  the  column,  which  got  into  the  camp 
long  before  he  did. 

The  three  columns  made  quick  and  thorough  work  in 
the  camp,  but  in  the  fog  many  of  the  enemy  escaped  to  the 
woods  and  mountains.  This  was  the  camp  of  Bradley  T. 
Johnson's  brigade.  McCausland's  own  brigade  was  on  the 
other  side  of  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac.  This  river 
was  about  one  hundred  feet  wide,  the  water  above  the  horses' 
knees,  very  rapid,  with  a  bottom  of  rolling  cobble  stones. 

About  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  the  First  New  York, 
and  less  than  a  hundred  of  the  Third  West  Virginia,  were 
ordered  to  cross  the  river  and  see  what  was  there.  Captain 
Abram  Jones  of  the  First  was  in  the  lead,  both  detachments 
being  under  Major  Gibson  of  the  I4th  Pennsylvania. 
They  went  about  a  mile  in  a  flat,  muddy  road.  On  the  left 
was  a  large  field  of  corn,  the  corn  standing  so  high  that  the 
men,  although  on  horseback,  could  not  see  what  was  be 
yond.  A  few  Confederates  in  front  kept  firing  at  the 
column,  and  falling  back.  Thomas  Coyle' s  horse  was  killed. 
Valentine's  was  shot  in  the  shoulder,  but  Valentine  kept 
him  going. 

They  came  to  the  limit  of  the  cornfield,  and  found  on 
the  left  of  the  road  a  wide,  level  meadow  land,  and  to  their 
amazement,  on  the  farther  side  of  this  field  was  the  rest  of 
McCausland's  division,  mounted  and  in  line  of  battle,  with 
a  strong  skirmish  line  out  in  front,  and  a  strong  flanking 
force  off  to  the  left.  There  seemed  to  be  from  1,200  to 
1,500  of  them,  and  against  them  were  about  200.  But  it 
flashed  into  the  mind  of  every  one  of  the  200,  that  if  they 
were  to  fall  back  or  hesitate,  the  enemy  would  run  them 
down  before  they  could  get  over  that  mile  of  muddy  road 


408  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

and  across  that  wide,  rapid,  stony  river.  There  was  a  prob 
ability  that  the  enemy  would  not  suspect  the  smallness  of 
their  numbers,  and  the  surprise  and  rout  of  Johnson's  camp 
had  probably  had  its  demoralizing  effect. 

Major  Gibson,  quietly  riding  out  into  the  meadow,  took 
in  the  situation.  Captain  Jones  was  quick  to  think  and 
act,  and,  waving  his  sabre  instantly  called  out :  "Forward ! 
Forward ! !  Yell!  men,  YELL  ! !" 

The  men  poured  out  of  the  road  and  into  the  meadow 
as  confidently  as  if  there  had  been  5,000  of  them;  and  firing, 
swinging  their  sabres  and  yelling  to  the  full  extent  of  their 
united  capacity,  charged  straight  for  the  center  of  the  Con 
federate  line.  The  enemy  did  not  wait  to  receive  the  charge, 
but  broke  and  fled.  There  was  a  hot  pursuit  for  a  few 
miles.  These  men  were  worth  overhauling.  Their  spa 
cious  saddle  bags  and  blanket  rolls  contained  many  valuable 
goods  taken  from  the  Chambersburg  stores. 

A  brave  young  fellow  was  captured  because  he  had  dis 
mounted  to  open  a  gate  and  let  their  color-bearer  escape. 

Dr.  Douglas,  assistant  surgeon,  sometimes  seemed  to 
want  to  see  how  wounds  were  made  as  well  as  healed.  He 
was  in  the  pursuit,  and  overtook  a  Confederate  who,  while 
about  to  surrender,  observed  the  doctor's  slender  weapon  in 
contrast  with  his  own  heavy  sabre,  and  changed  his  mind 
about  surrendering.  What  might  have  been  an  unequal 
fight  was  interrupted  by  a  few  of  the  men  appearing  and 
taking  the  doctor's  antagonist  prisoner. 

In  this  entire  affair  the  Union  loss  was  thirty-six  killed 
and  wounded,  nearly  half  of  whom  were  officers.  The  en 
emy  lost  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  killed  and  wounded, 
four  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  four  cannon  and  their 
wagons.  Averell  leisurely  retired  to  New  Creek.  From 
July  3Oth,  the  day  Chambersburg  was  burned,  to  the  even- 


THE  PURSUIT  OF  MCCAUSLAND.  409 

ing  of  August  8th,  he  had  marched  two  hundred  and  four 
teen  miles.  He  returned  by  the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  to  Hancock. 

Early  reported  that  after  this  affair  at  Moorefield  he 
had  no  cavalry  that  he  could  depend  on. 

General  Bradley  T.  Johnson  kindly  responded  to  a  re 
quest  for  an  account  of  this  affair  from  his  side  of  it : 

BALTIMORE,  MD.,  May  7,  1895. 
MY  DEAR  LIEUTENANT  BEACH  : 

Your  letter  brings  back  to  me  scenes  and  feelings  of  a  third  of  a 
century  ago,  and  I  long  for  "one  hour  of  Bonnie  Dundee."  Said  King 
Hal,  on  the  eve  of  Agincourt : 

"Old  men  forget,  yet  all  shall  be  forgot; 
But  he'll  remember  with  advantages 
What   feats   he  did  that   day." 

It  seems  to  me  an  honest  human  feeling  that  old  soldiers  should 
recount  their  adventures,  their  achievements,  their  victories  and  their 
defeats.  I  do  not  envy  the  people  who  grudge  them  their  indulgence 
in  this  natural  pleasure. 

In  August,  1864,  I  was  in  command  of  a  brigade  of  cavalry  in  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  with  Gen.  McCausland  and  his  brigade, 
was  sent  to  exact  tribute  from  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  or,  in  default  of 
payment,  to  burn  that  town  in  retaliation  for  the  burning  by  Gen. 
Hunter,  of  the  homes  of  R.  W.  Lee,  A.  R.  Boteler  and  Gov.  Letcher, 
and  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute  at  Lexington.  Early's  intention 
was  to  make  Chambersburg  pay  Lee,  Boteler  and  Letcher.  We,  Mc 
Causland  being  senior,  crossed  the  Potomac,  went  to  Chambersburg  and 
demanded  $100,000  in  gold,  or  $500,000  in  greenbacks,  and  in  failure  of 
payment  promptly  burned  the  town.  On  our  return  Averell,  with  a 
brigade  of  Union  cavalry,  in  which  was  the  First  New  York,  over 
took  us  at  Hancock,  two  marches  from  Chambersburg,  and  attacked 
our  rear  guard,  which  was  from  my  brigade.  He  made  no  impression, 
and  when  we  got  ready  we  moved  leisurely  up  the  National  pike  to 
Cumberland,  where  Kelley  had  a  lot  of  infantry  and  blocked  our  way. 
Turning  back,  we  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Oldtown,  where  we  cap 
tured  a  block  house  held  by  Col.  Stough  of  the  iS4th  Ohio — one  hun 
dred  days  men — I  think,  150  of  them.  We  pushed  on  to  Romney,  and 
next  to  New  Creek,  which  place  we  attacked,  but  failed  to  carry. 
Thence  we  went  to  Moorefield,  where  we  camped  the  evening  of  the 
6th  of  August.  We  had  been  marching  day  and  night  since  August 
ist.  We  had  not  camped  nor  taken  off  our  clothes,  so  we  were  rea 
sonably  tired.  I  was  sound  asleep  at  daylight,  August  7th,  when  my 


410  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

adjutant  jumped  into  my  room.  I  was  on  the  second  floor  of  the  Mc 
Neil  House  with  my  jacket  and  boots  off,  lying  on  the  floor  with  my 
head  on  my  saddle.  "General,  the  Yankees  are  in,  the  camp!!"  In  one 
twist  I  was  in  boots,  jacket  and  hat.  I  am  thus  particular,  for  I 
heard  a  fellow  once  tell  a  very  interesting  yarn,  how  "General  Bradley 
Johnson  was  playing  poker  one  night,  when  Averell  ran  him  out,  and 
he  swam  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac  in  his  night  shirt."  The 
story  elicited  great  applause,  for  the  auditors  knew  me  and  the  narrator 
didn't.  But  the  climax  came  when  Wade  Hampton  said,  "Let  me  in 
troduce  you  to  General  Bradley  Johnson !"  Said  the  man,  "Great  God ! 
I  thought  I  knew  him."  "I  was  sure  you  didn't,"  said  Hampton,  "for 
to  my  certain  knowledge  he  never  had  a  night  shirt  the  whole  war,  and 
never  played  a  game  of  cards."  Anyhow,  I  reached  the  ground  floor 
in  two  jumps,  and  was  out  of  the  front  door.  But  along  the  road,  ten 
steps  off,  was  a  column  of  horsemen  in  blue,  at  carry  sabre,  moving  at 
a  trot.  I  turned  for  the  back  entrance.  Five  or  six  gentlemen  in  blue 
came  bouncing  up  the  steps  and  into  the  hall,  pumping  their  Spencer 
carbines  at  every  jump. 

Well,  there  are  many  gymnastic  exercises  and  many  plans  of  get 
ting  men  into  condition  for  speed,  but  my  observation  then  was  that 
five  Spencer  carbines  ten  yards  behind  a  man,  pouring  five  continual 
streams  of  bullets  around  and  over  him,  are  the  most  exhilarating  tonic 
that  was  ever  invented.  I  went  down  the  steps  in  one  jump,  over  a 
four  and  a  half  foot  fence  in  another.  As  I  got  into  the  open,  a  man 
fell  from  his  horse.  I  was  on  the  horse  in  a  breath,  galloping  to  get 
ahead  of  the  Yankee  column  to  my  command,  yet  untouched.  I  reached 
the  8th  and  the  2ist  Virginia,  crossing  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac. 
I  formed  the  8th  and  held  it  for,  say  fifteen  minutes,  while  the  21  st  was 
forming  in  the  rear.  The  momentum  of  the  blue  horsemen  was  irre 
sistible,  though.  They  rode  over  everything;  they  rode  over  me  with 
the  8th  ;  they  rode  over  Peters  with  the  21  st,  wounded  and  captured 
him  (he  is  now  Professor  of  Latin  in  the  University  of  Virginia), 
and  nearly  routed  McCausland  and  me  off  the  face  of  the  earth. 

I  consider  it  a  very  amiable  thing  in  me  to  write  this  for  your 
amusement,  but  I  have  never  blamed  myself  for  the  disaster.  Averell 
surprised  my  pickets  by  a  ruse  de  guerre,  and  he  is  entitled  to  the  credit 
of  a  very  brilliant  exploit,  for  which  I  do  not  think  he  ever  received 
proper  credit.  He  was  a  chivalric  and  gallant  soldier,  and  you  "like 
a  man  after  you've  fought  him."  That's  old  Colonel  Beauseant  in  the 
Lady  of  Lyons.  I  am  yours  very  truly, 

BRADLEY  T.  JOHNSON. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
THE  LOWER  VALLEY. 

/*J5i  few  days'  rest  at  Cumberland  and  Hancock,  and  the 
J-  V.  command  found  itself  again  at  Martinsburg,  with 
the  enemy  reported  at  Bunker  Hill  and  Winchester.  On 
picket  at  the  stone  church,  a  few  miles  west  of  town, 
Colonel  Powell  commanding  the  brigade,  and  Captain  Sim 
ons  the  regiment.  Many  officers  on  the  sick  list  from  hard 
service.  The  regiment  in  detachments,  in  different  places. 
Orderly  sergeants  sent  to  Harper's  Ferry  or  Hagerstown, 
where  they  would  not  be  disturbed  by  continual  moving,  to 
make  out  muster  rolls.  The  men  who  had  not  re-enlisted, 
whose  terms  of  service  had  expired,  were  still  doing  active 
duty  while  waiting  for  their  discharge. 

Hunter  had  been  relieved  and,  August  7,  Sheridan  was 
in  command.  The  ioth,  from  his  position  at  Halltown,  he 
marched  out  to  compel  Early  to  fight  before  being  re-en 
forced.  Merritt's  cavalry  came  in  contact  with  the  Con 
federates  between  Millwood  and  Winchester,  and  drove 
them  to  Kernstown.  Custer  came  upon  them  near  Berry- 
ville.  Devin  found  them  at  White  Post  and  drove  them 
toward  Front  Royal.  Merritt  again  encountered  them  at 
Newtown  and  suffered  some  loss.  The  army  followed 
Early  to  Cedar  creek  on  the  I2th.  It  was  evident  that 
they  had  been  re-enforced.  There  was  a  strong  force  at 
Front  Royal.  This  force  advanced  against  Devin  along 

411 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  Shenandoah,  wading  the  stream  and  making  a  spirited 
attack.  They  were  driven  back  with  a  loss  of  500,  Devin 
losing  60. 

Sheridan  saw  that  this  wide  valley  was  not  an  easy 
place  to  hold.  The  i6th,  he  withdrew,  giving  orders  to  the 
cavalry  to  drive  before  them  all  live  stock  that  might  be  of 
service  to  the  enemy.  Early  followed  and  attacked.  The 
1 7th,  he  brought  overwhelming  numbers  against  Torbert 
at  Winchester,  driving  him  from  the  place  and  inflicting  a 
loss  of  more  than  300  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 
He  came  on  through  Smithfield  and  Summit  Point.  The 
2  ist,  the  Sixth  corps  encountered  this  advance  and  in  a 
sharp  engagement  lost  300.  Early  now  moved  around 
the  right  of  Sheridan  to  Kearneysville,  Leetown  and  Will- 
iamsport.  Torbert  met  the  advance  and  drove  it  back,  but 
finding  a  superior  force  in  front  of  him  he  withdrew.  Custer 
was  forced  across  the  Potomac.  He  then  made  his  way  to 
Harper's  Ferry  and  back  to  Sheridan  at  Halltown.  In  a 
few  days  Early  fell  back  to  his  lines  at  Winchester.  The 
28th,  Sheridan  moved  forward  to  Charlestown.  There 
were  a  number  of  engagements  along  the  Opequon,  each 
side  in  turn  crossing  the  stream  and  being  driven  back. 
September  3,  Early  made  a  demonstration  around  Sheri 
dan's  right  to  divert  his  attention  from  Anderson  who  was 
trying  to  get  out  of  the  Valley  by  way  of  Berryville  and 
the  gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge.  But  Crook  was  there  in  ad 
vance  of  Anderson.  Each  met  the  other  unexpectedly,  and 
both  fought  till  nightfall.  All  the  enemy's  forces  fell  back 
to  Winchester.  The  I4th,  Anderson  withdrew  from  Early's 
army,  and  went  his  way  through  the  Blue  Ridge  and  to 
ward  Lee's  army. 

This  is  an  outline  of  the  more  important  events  for  a 
little  more  than  a  month.  The  hot  fields  of  the  Valley  had 
been  contested  and  fought  over  again  and  again,  and  neither 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  413 

side  could  as  yet  boast  of  much  advantage.  The  tracks  of 
the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  had  been  torn  up  repeatedly.  Both 
armies  had  become  expert  in  destroying-  railroads.  The 
sleepers  would  be  piled  up  and  set  on  fire.  The  rails  would 
be  placed  across  the  burning  piles,  and  when  made  red 
hot  in  the  middle,  a  few  men  at  each  end  would  wrap  and 
twist  these  rails  around  a  telegraph  pole,  rendering  them 
useless  until  they  had  been  passed  through  a  rolling  mill. 

Personal  experiences  and  adventures  may  not  have 
counted  much  in  the  summing  up  of  results.  But  there 
were  no  busier  men  in  the  whole  campaign  than  the  men 
of  the  First  cavalry  who  had  been  detailed  at  the  various 
headquarters  as  scouts.  The  services  and  adventures  of 
the  Goublemans,  Dunn,  Warren,  Savacool,  Valentine,  For- 
key,  Wilson  and  others  would  fill  a  volume.  The  time 
was  crowded  with  these  exciting  adventures. 

A  detachment  of  the  regiment  went  out  the  I2th.  After 
halting  along  the  way  and  side-scouting,  it  reached  head 
quarters  at  Cedar  Creek,  the  I5th.  A  train  of  wagons  and 
ambulances,  guarded  by  a  regiment  of  one  hundred  days' 
men,  had  been  attacked  by  Mosby  in  the  vicinity  of  Berry- 
ville.  It  would  take  more  than  a  hundred  days  to  teach 
men  how  to  successfully  encounter  Mosby.  The  guard 
was  driven  off,  the  train  captured,  and  most  of  the  wagons 
destroyed.  The  First  cavalry  was  hastily  sent  from  Cedar 
Creek  to  the  scene  of  the  capture,  but  Mosby  and  his  men 
had  gone. 

Sheridan  was  nettled.  A  correspondent  reported  the 
affair  to  his  paper  with  a  tinge  of  intimation  that  it  might 
have  been  avoided  by  good  management.  The  published 
account  did  not  have  a  soothing  effect  on  Sheridan.  He 
summoned  all  the  correspondents  to  his  quarters  and  lec 
tured  them  in  no  gentle  terms.  They  insisted  that  they 
had  reported  only  the  truth.  But  this  did  not  pacify  him. 


4?14  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

He  ordered  them  out  of  his  department.  They  claimed 
that  they  had  permits  from  the  war  department.  He  told 
them  to  go  to — the  hottest  place  he  could  just  then  think  of. 
But  one  of  them  replied,  "But,  general,  I  believe  that  place 
is  in  your  department,  too."  The  correspondent  took  his 
leave  for  Washington.  There  a  friend,  to  whom  he  told  his 
story,  took  him  to  Secretary  Stanton.  The  secretary,  us 
ually  severely  in  earnest,  often  gruff,  laughed  over  the  in 
cident  till  tears  were  in  his  eyes.  He  gave  the  correspond 
ent  a  new  permit,  good  in  all  the  departments  of  the  army, 
and  suggested  that  he  return  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
Avhere  there  was  likely  to  be  plenty  of  news  to  report. 

At  a  time  when  Charlestown  was  not  within  the  lines, 
it  was  learned  that  a  party  of  Confederates  had  worked 
their  way  into  the  town.  A  plan  was  laid  to  capture  them, 
and  its  execution  was  intrusted  to  Captain  Battersby.  The 
plan  was  a  good  one  and  a  dash  was  made.  But  a  sub 
stantial  stone  wall  proved  an  unexpected  barrier  in  the  way 
of  the  dash.  As  a  result  several  men  and  horses  were 
slightly  wounded,  and  none  of  the  enemy  were  taken. 

The  long  continued  hard  service  had  used  up  so  many 
horses  that  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  was,  for  the  time  be 
ing,  dismounted,  and  the  horses  and  equipments  given  to 
the  dismounted  men  of  the  First  New  York. 

The  29th,  the  detachments  that  had  been  here  and 
there  about  Harper's  Ferry  and  Sandy  Hook,  with  the  dis 
mounted  men  remounted,  were  brought  together,  and  in 
the  afternoon  marched  up  the  Maryland  side.  Stopped  for 
the  night  on  Scheifler's  farm  near  Boonsboro.  The  3Oth, 
marched  through  Hagerstown  and  nearly  to  Williamsport, 
joining  a  part  of  the  regiment  that  was  there.  The  3ist, 
marched  to  Martinsburg  and  became  a  part  of  the  Second 
brigade  of  the  Second  cavalry  division,  army  of  West  Vir- 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  415 

ginia.  Colonel  Powell  commanded  the  brigade,  and  Gen 
eral  Averell  the  division. 

Nearly  all  the  regiment  was  together  once  more.  Those 
who  had  been  with  Averell  had  seen  severe  service,  their 
horses  having  been  saddled  almost  constantly,  day  and 
night,  in  line  of  battle. 

Soon  after  the  detachments  had  come  together,  the 
enemy  appeared.  After  some  hot  skirmishing  and  artillery 
firing,  enough  to  prove  that  they  were  in  superior  numbers, 
Averell  fell  back  to  Falling  Waters.  Rested  in  line  of 
battle,  with  horses  saddled. 

September  i,  aroused  at  three  o'clock.  Crossed  at  the 
Williamsport  ford  and  moved  some  distance  away  from  the 
river.  Rested  in  some  woods.  A  body  of  the  enemy 
crossed  the  river.  The  command  was  ready  in  line  wait 
ing  to  receive  them,  but  they  did  not  come  far. 

While  waiting  in  line  one  of  the  companies  was  sud 
denly  thrown  into  great  confusion.  Some  of  the  officers, 
thinking  the  men,  for  some  reason,  had  become  panic- 
stricken,  galloped  among  them  to  restore  order.  But  no 
sooner  did  they  get  among  the  men  than  they  also  began  to 
exhibit  the  same  intense  excitement  and  evident  desire  to 
go  somewhere  else.  All  this  would  have  been  alarming  if 
it  had  not  been  for  the  shouts  of  laughter  of  the  men.  One 
of  the  horses  had  stepped  into  a  great  nest  of  yellow  jackets. 
The  vicious  little  insects  were  proving  that,  in  proportion 
to  their  size,  they  could  do  as  lively  fighting  as  any  forces 
in  the  field.  The  regiment  moved  out  and  left  them  in  un 
disputed  possession  of  the  ground. 

The  next  day,  September  2,  again  crossed  the  river 
and  went  near  to  Martinsburg.  Halted  for  a  time,  probably 
until  the  scouts  could  get  some  information.  While  the 
men  were  lying  at  ease,  Colonel  Powell  rode  out  in  front 
and  called  them  to  attention.  They  instantly  sprang  to 


416  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

their  horses.  But  he  only  wanted  to  say  a  few  words.  He 
was  a  large,  strongly-built,  frank,  honest  man,  plain  in  ap 
pearance.  He  had  been  a  prisoner  for  some  months,  and 
his  treatment  had  been  such  as  to  lead  him  to  desire  no  fur 
ther  experience  of  that  kind.  He  was  tired  of  falling  back 
before  the  enemy.  He  did  not  know  that  there  was  going 
to  be  a  fight.  "But  if  we  have  a  fight,  fight  your  best,  and 
compel  the  enemy  to  fall  back."  It  was  evident  that  he 
would  do  his  best,  and  at  the  front. 

Passed  through  Martinsburg  and  came  upon  the  enemy 
at  the  big  spring.  Skirmishing  began  at  once.  Steadily 
forced  them  back  two  miles  beyond  Bunker  Hill,  capturing 
some  prisoners  and  wagons  and  two  flags.  Then  fell  back 
undisturbed  nearly  to  Darkesville.  Rested  in  line  of  battle 
with  horses  saddled.  A  rainy  night ;  27  miles. 

September  3,  up  early,  but  lay  still  till  noon.  Then 
the  entire  division  moved  forward  in  parallel  columns  .of 
squadrons,  the  line  of  columns  extending  through  the  fields 
to  a  considerable  distance  on  each  side  of  the  pike.  Came 
upon  the  enemy  in  force.  Drove  them  to  Bunker  Hill. 
Companies  C  and  F  sent  off  to  the  left.  While  engaged 
with  some  dismounted  cavalry  or  infantry,  Corporal 
Thomas  James  of  Co.  C  was  killed,  and  one  of  F  was  slightly 
wounded.  James  was  a  good  soldier.  His  comrades,  un 
willing  to  leave  him  buried  there,  and  having  no  ambulance 
or  wagon,  carefully  brought  him  back  upon  his  horse. 

Companies  D  and  K  had  been  detached.  At  an  op 
portune  moment  they  made  a  sudden  charge  and  brought  in 
a  number  of  prisoners. 

At  one  time  the  line  was  exposed  to  a  severe  fire  from 
a  battery  which  was  using  round  shells  or  solid  balls.  These, 
striking  the  ground  in  front,  would  ricochet,  and  even 
bound  over  the  heads  of  the  men  in  line.  Finally.  Breck- 
inridge's  infantry  came  on,  and  the  Enfield  rifle  balls 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  417 

whistled  thick  and  fast.  A  few  men  were  wounded,  and 
orders  were  given  to  fall  back. 

All  these  days  the  practice  was  to  advance  as  rapidly 
as  the  pressure  of  the  enemy  on  the  different  parts  of  the 
line  would  permit  .  When  it  was  severe  on  any  one  part, 
the  rest  of  the  line  would  halt  until  the  pressure  was  over 
come.  Then  the  line  would  press  forward  until  the  en 
emy's  cavalry  were  driven  back  under  the  shelter  of  their 
infantry.  Then  the  whole  line  would  fall  back  several 
miles  and  bivouac.  Usually  the  men  were  in  the  saddle  al 
most  constantly  from  sunrise  until  dark,  and  each  day  had 
its  casualties. 

This  day  the  command  fell  back  in  a  long,  steady, 
heavy  rain  to  Darkesville.  Everything  was  thoroughly 
wet.  There  was  no  fear  that  the  enemy  would  follow.  The 
little  shelter  tents  were  spread.  Rubber  blankets  were 
stretched  to  their  utmost  use.  Fires  were  started  with  diffi 
culty.  In  the  intense  darkness  the  men  hunted  around  for 
water  and  forage.  Horses  were  unsaddled  and  cared  for 
as  well  as  possible.  Coffee  was  made  and  supper  eaten. 
The  rain  had  stopped  and  the  men  were  prepared  to  get 
dried  out  and  make  the  best  of  a  bad  night,  when  the  call 
rang  out,  "Companies  B  and  C,  saddle  up !"  The  situation 
is  accepted  as  cheerfully  as  possible.  The  wet  saddle 
blankets  are  refolded,  horses  resaddled,  shelter  tents  and 
all  belongings  rolled  or  packed,  and  buckled  on.  The  cap 
tain  in  command  reports  to  Captain  Rumsey,  A.  A.  G.,  for 
orders.  Orders  are  to  communicate  with  Sheridan's  right, 
supposed  to  be  somewhere  along  the  line  of  the  pike  between 
Charlestown  and  Berryville.  But  the  captain  misunder 
stands  his  directions.  Instead  of  striking  off  to  the  left,  he 
goes  out  on  the  ground  we  have  fought  over  during  the  day. 
Luckily  the  enemy  has  fallen  back,  too.  The  roads  are 
muddy.  The  sky  is  inky  blackness.  In  the  distance  are 


418  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

some  faint  reflections  of  camp  fires.  A  horse  at  the  head 
of  the  column  shies  out  to  one  side.  His  rider  looks  down 
through  the  darkness  and  discerns  the  shape  of  a  dead  Con 
federate  lying  across  the  midde  of  the  muddy  road. 

Through  the  covered  bridge  over  the  Opequon.  The 
horses  of  the  advance  pick  their  way  with  the  utmost  care, 
seeming  to  avoid  some  lighter  patches  on  the  floor  of  the 
bridge.  To  the  men,  half  inclined  to  fall  asleep,  these  may 
have  seemed  like  patches  of  moonlight  through  holes  in  the 
sides  or  roof  of  the  bridge,  not  remembering  that  there  was 
no  moon.  The  foremost  horses  pick  their  way  across  when 
— "Halt!" — comes  from  the  rear.  Some  horses  have  fallen 
through  the  bridge.  Part  of  the  floor  had  been  taken  up, 
and  some  loose  pieces  of  boards  had  been  laid  on  the  strin 
gers,  on  which  foot  travelers  could  pass.  The  lighter 
patches  were  from  the  glimmering  of  the  water  of  the  creek 
beneath. 

There  were  faint  lights  ahead,  either  the  dying  embers 
of  picket  fires,  or  the  phosphorescence  on  some  old  stump. 
Many  were  the  hesitating  surmises  and  possible  dangers  of 
that  night  ride.  The  captain  instructs  the  advance  to  fall 
back  when  they  come  to  a  picket.  He  proposes  to  use  some 
tact  in  avoiding  dangers.  At  last  comes  the  challenge. 
"Halt!  Who  comes  there?"  "Friend."  "Friend  to  whom?" 
After  much  perplexity  and  indecision  and  watching  for 
some  clue  as  to  who  the  challenger  may  be,  the  captain 
takes  his  chances;  "Friend  to  the  Union."  "All  right,"  and 
"all  is  well."  It  was  the  22nd  Pa.  on  picket.  Three  o'clock, 
and  the  companies  rest  after  twenty- four  miles  of  march 
ing. 

That  same  night  Captain  Jones  went  out  with  a  strong 
patrol.  He  placed  Valentine  in  charge  of  the  advance. 
Valentine  had  proved  himself  in  emergencies  not  undecided 
nor  hesitating.  As  he  was  going  forward  he  came  upon 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  419 

the  enemy's  picket.  They  fired.  He  fired  in  return,  and, 
regardless  of  numbers,  charged  upon  them.  He  raced 
them  to  near  Bunker  Hill,  capturing  a  lieutenant  and  three 
men.  He  had  killed  the  lieutenant's  horse,  and  wounded 
the  horses  of  the  other  three,  and  wounded  two  of  the  men 
themselves. 

Sunday,  September  4th,  the  two  companies  returned 
from  Sheridan's  right,  and  found  Averell  again  advancing 
in  columns  of  squadrons. 

During  a  brief  halt  for  lunch,  Thomas  Noon,  a  good, 
honest  man,  was  accidently  shot  through  the  head.  He 
was  buried  by  the  roadside. 

The  regiment  takes  an  extra  ride,  patrolling  in  force 
out  in  front.  Bivouac  in  line  of  battle  with  horses  sad 
dled,  near  Bunker  Hill,  after  marching  twenty-four  miles. 
A  steady  rain  all  night.  Sleep  soundly  in  the  corner  of  a 
rail  fence. 

September  5,  up  early.  Under  orders  to  be  ready  for 
anything.  A  number  of  officers  on  staff  or  special  duty. 
Short  of  commissioned  officers.  Orderly  sergeants  com 
manding  companies.  One  is  commanding  a  squadron — 
two  companies. 

To-day  the  advance  was  slower  than  usual,  and  the  pres 
sure  on  the  line  more  severe.  Passed  Bunker  Hill  late  in 
the  afternoon  and  advanced  to  within  a  mile  or  so  of  Steph- 
enson's  Depot.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  oblique  to  the 
left,  probably  because  Averell  had  noticed  that  the  enemy's 
lines  in  that  direction  extended  far  beyond  his  own.  We 
had  gained  ground  probably  half  a  mile  to  the  left,  and  were 
moving  up  the  steep  incline  of  a  ridge  which  ran  at  right 
angles  to  our  course  and  shut  off  our  view  to  the  front, 
when  the  skirmish  line  was  driven  back  through  the  ranks. 
As  we  reached  the  top  of  the  ridge  large  masses  of  infantry, 
preceded  by  a  swarm  of  skirmishers,  could  be  seen  at  close 


4-20  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

rifle  range  and  advancing.  The  men  at  the  front  in  line 
upon  the  crest  of  the  ridge  were  a  fair  mark  for  the  enemy's 
rifles.  At  the  same  time  bullets  from  the  left  began  to 
sweep  the  line  from  left  to  right.  The  enemy  was  on  our 
flank  as  well  as  in  front.  It  was  not  the  part  of  a  private 
soldier  to  talk  too  much.  But  one  officious  fellow  an 
nounced,  "They're  flanking  us!"  He  thought  he  was  giv 
ing  useful  information.  But  Major  Quinn  silenced  him, 
"Never  mind  their  flanking  us."  But  he  had  realized  the 
position  was  untenable,  and  gave  the  order,  "By  fours,  to 
the  right  about."  As  the  men  had  not  counted  off  since 
early  in  the  morning,  and  many  had  changed  places  in  the 
ranks  and  had  forgotten  their  numbers,  the  regiment  was 
thrown  into  some  confusion  in  attempting  to  execute  the 
movement.  "As  you  were,"  coolly  ordered  the  major. 
"Count  off  by  fours."  Immediately  the  men  faced  to  the 
front  and  counted  off,  the  bullets  from  front  and  left  whis 
tling  over  them,  and  then  deliberately  executed  the  original 
order. 

All  this  took  less  than  a  minute,  and  the  movement  of 
a  few  paces  down  the  slope  took  the  men  from  under  fire. 
Yet  in  this  brief  time  a  number  of  men  and  horses  were 
shot.  Shepherd  of  Co.  D  received  a  wound  from  which  he 
died.  Michaels  of  A  lost  a  leg.  Williamson  of  F  was 
wounded  in  the  side,  his  second  wound. 

As  soon  as  the  regiment  reached  the  foot  of  the  ridge, 
a  number  of  men  who  were  armed  with  carbines  were  dis 
mounted  and  sent  back  to  re-enforce  the  skirmish  line,  cov 
ering  the  regiment  as  it  fell  back  on  a  slow  walk. 

The  losses  this  day  were  the  most  severe  of  any  that 
had  occurred  since  we  had  joined  Averell.  They  were  dis 
tributed  through  the  entire  command.  All  the  ambulances 
were  crowded  that  night.  The  wounded  were  taken  on  to 


THE  LOWER  VALLEY.  421 

Martinsburg,  and  they  filled  a  large  church  which  had  been 
converted  into  a  hospital. 

During  all  these  days  the  horses  were  under  saddle  day 
and  night.  The  regiment  bivouacked  in  line.  Rations 
were  irregular  and  scanty.  If  it  had  not  been  for  the  corn 
that  was  ready  for  roasting,  men  and  horses  would  have 
suffered  from  hunger.  Notwithstanding  this  arduous  serv 
ice  the  men  were  always  in  good  spirits,  ready  for  any  kind 
of  diversion  when  not  fighting. 

Now  for  a  few  days  there  was  a  rest  in  this  practice 
of  advancing,  stirring  up  the  enemy,  and  then  retiring.  The 
division  fell  back  to  the  vicinity  of  Leetown. 


CHAPTER  XL. 
WINCHESTER. 

17,  part  of  the  regiment  was  on  picket 
at  Portersfield.  The  reserve  was  in  some  thick 
woods  near  a  ford  of  the  Opequon.  The  posts  were  so 
placed  as  to  cover  a  considerable  front.  For  greater  se 
curity  patrols  passed  frequently  from  one  post  to  another. 
Late  in  the  evening,  George  G.  Peavey  and  Pliny  F.  Nel 
son  were  patrolling.  It  was  a  little  past  full  moon,  and  the 
moon,  an  hour  or  so  high,  threw  the  shadows  of  some  woods 
on  the  right  beyond  the  middle  of  the  road.  All  seemed 
quiet.  But  the  two  men  were  watchful,  and  the  actions  of 
their  horses  excited  their  suspicions.  They  drew  and 
cocked  their  revolvers,  and  rode  on.  Suddenly  they  found 
themselves  in  the  midst  of  a  large  number  of  men  who 
stepped  out  from  the  shadows  of  the  woods  and  quickly 
closed  around  them.  They  were  surrounded.  In  sup 
pressed  voices  the  Confederates  commanded  the  two  men  to 
surrender.  To  Peavey  the  quick  thought  came,  "We  can 
surrender  and  save  our  lives,  but  the  reserve  will  be  sur 
prised  and  captured  or  slain.  By  firing,  we  may  lose  our 
lives,  but  we  will  give  the  alarm  and  save  the  reserve." 
Quick  as  the  thought  he  poured  the  fire  of  his  revolver 
among  the  enemy.  Nelson  did  the  same.  They  wheeled 
their  horses  and,  lying  low,  dashed  through  the  line  that  had 
formed  around  them.  The  enemy  fired  a  volley  after  them. 

422 


WINCHESTER.  423 

Peavey  escaped  unharmed.  Nelson's  horse  was  shot  and 
he  himself  received  two  shots  in  the  breast.  The  next  day 
he  was  taken  to  the  general  hospital  at  Sandy  Hook.  The 
bullets  were  removed,  but  he  suffered  terrible  agony,  and 
on  the  1 9th  he  died.  He  was  an  honest  man  and  a  faithful 
soldier. 

The  Confederates  did  not  linger.  Traces  of  blood  on 
the  ground  indicated  that  Peavey's  and  Nelson's  shots  had 
done  some  execution.  Their  wounded  they  took  with  them, 
except  one.  He  had  been  shot  through  the  body  and  left 
behind.  In  his  pocket  was  found  the  following : 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA, 

8th  August,  1864. 

Private  D.  M.  Lewis,  Co.  B,  I2th  Virginia  Cavalry,  will  proceed  to 
Jefferson  County,  Virginia,  to  procure  a  fresh  horse,  returning  in 
twenty  (20)  days  without  fail. 

By  command  of  General  R.  E.  Lee, 

H.  B.  MCCLELLAN, 

A.  A.   General. 

This  pass  was  kept  in  Peavey's  family  as  a  trophy. 
The  wounded  man  recovered  and  was  held  a  long  time  as 
a  prisoner.  This  fearless  firing  of  Peavey's  in  the  face  of 
almost  certain  death  was  one  more  heroic  act  added  to  many 
previous  ones. 

This  picket  force  remained  on  duty  the  next  day,  and 
at  midnight  was  called  back  to  Leetown  where  the  rest  of 
the  regiment  was  resting  in  the  woods  near  the  Episcopal 
church. 

Grant  had  made  a  visit  to  Sheridan.  The  latter  ex 
plained  to  his  chief  the  situation  and  his  plans.  Grant  was 
well  satisfied,  and  asked  Sheridan  when  he  would  be  ready 
to  move.  The  reply  was  satisfactory,  and  Grant  took  his 
leave,  impressed  with  the  other's  confidence  that  he  was 
going  to  win. 

Sheridan  had  been  waiting  to  hear  from  a  girl  in  Win- 


424  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Chester.  The  girl  transmitted  her  intelligence  by  writing 
on  a  piece  of  tissue  paper.  This  she  folded  in  tin  foil. 
This  again  she  covered  up  in  a  convenient  quantity  of  to 
bacco  which  she  gave  to  a  trusty  colored  man  whose  inno 
cent  appearance  enabled  him  to  get  through  the  lines  with 
out  exciting  suspicion.  A  part  of  Early* s  force,  Kershaw's, 
had  been  detached,  and  this  was  the  news  that  Sheridan 
had  been  waiting  to  hear. 

At  2  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  I9th,  the  whole  army 
was  astir.  AverelFs  division  moved  toward  Martinsburg 
and  then  along  the  pike  toward  Winchester.  It  was  famil 
iar  ground,  ground  that  had  been  hotly  contested  time  and 
again.  It  was  yet  early  morning  when  the  enemy  was 
found.  Again  in  parallel  columns  of  squadrons  at  such 
distances  from  each  other  that,  moving  "front  into  line/' 
the  columns  could  quickly  be  transformed  into  one  continu 
ous  line  reaching  far  out  across  the  fields  on  both  sides  of 
the  pike,  with  a  skirmish  line  thrown  out  in  front,  the 
division  steadily  advanced.  The  enemy  fought  stubbornly, 
but  was  steadily  forced  back.  All  the  forenoon  and  till  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  was  this  hot  fighting  kept  up.  The 
line  was  then  not  far  from  Stephenson's  Depot. 

Far  off  to  the  left  had  been  heard  the  continuous  roll 
of  infantry  and  the  heavier  roar  of  artillery.  All  of  Sheri 
dan's  army  was  engaged,  and  as  it  had  crowded  forward, 
the  great  semicircle  along  which  the  fight  began,  had  con 
tracted,  and  Merritt's  right  was  now  in  touch  with  Averell's 
left. 

The  force  in  front  of  Averell  was  Fitz  Hugh  Lee's  cav 
alry  supported  by  Breckinridge's  infantry.  There  was  a 
feeling  of  satisfaction  over  the  way  in  which  things  were 
evidently  going.  The  division  had  fought  its  way  to  a  posi 
tion  on  "high  vantage  ground"  from  which  could  be  seen, 
across  the  plain  toward  Winchester,  the  long  lines  of  Lee's 


SHENANDOAH    VALLEY. 


FIELD   OF  OPEQUON. 


WINCHESTER.  425 

horsemen  seeming  as  if,  after  the  long  day's  hunt,  they  had 
been  brought  to  bay. 

The  First  New  York  was  directed  to  fall  back  a  little 
and  rest  in  reserve.  The  men  who  had  been  in  the  saddle 
constantly  since  before  daybreak,  opened  ranks,  dismounted, 
and  rested  themselves  by  walking  about,  but  not  getting  far 
away  from  their  horses  which  kept  their  places  in  the  ranks. 
They  were  not  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire.  Now  and 
then  a  solid  shot  would  come  bounding  and  rolling  along 
among  the  men  and  horses.  From  an  advanced  position  on 
their  skirmish  line,  protected  in  an  angle  of  a  stone  wall,  a 
few  Confederate  riflemen  were  sending  their  minie  balls 
wherever  they  could  see  a  fair  mark. 

A  young  Irishman,  because  of  his  five  years'  experi 
ence  in  the  regular  cavalry  and  his  good  service  as  a  drill 
sergeant,  had  been  made  a  lieutenant.  While  he  had  done 
some  good  service,  there  had  been  times  when,  in  critical 
situations,  he  had  shown  symptoms  of  nervousness.  There 
were  men  like  the  captain  who  some  time  before  this  had 
resigned,  brave  enough  at  times,  at  other  times  not  so  brave. 
It  had  been  said  of  this  captain  when  a  detachment  was  just 
starting  on  a  charge,  "He  would  have  got  into  that  fight  in 
spite  of  himself  if  he  had  not  succeeded  by  main  strength  in 
holding  in  his  horse." 

While  the  rest  of  the  men  had  dismounted,  this  lieuten 
ant  had  preferred  to  remain  in  his  saddle.  Although  not  a 
tall  man,  he  sat  high  on  his  horse,  and  was  a  good  mark  for 
those  Confederate  riflemen.  As  some  of  those  minie  balls 
whizzed  past  uncomfortably  close  to  his  head,  he  involun 
tarily  dodged.  Again  the  bullets  came,  and  again  he  ducked 
his  head.  The  men  laughed,  and  some  remarks  were  made. 
The  minies  became  malicious,  and  the  men  laughed  again 
until  the  lieutenant  turned  upon  them  in  his  towering  wrath, 
"Who's  a  hootin'  ?  (duck)  Who's  a  hootin'  ?  (duck)  Who's 


426  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

this  a  hootin'  ?  (duck)  Some  of  yeez'll  be  a  hootin'  (duck) 
to  yer  sorra  yit !"  His  manner  of  punctuating  his  emphatic 
expressions  created  "inextinguishable  laughter"  among  the 
men.  It  would  be  less  of  a  trial  for  him  to  move  forward 
than  to  sit  still  with  those  rifle  balls  coming  thick  and  fast 
at  his  head. 

Major  Ouinn  was  in  command  of  the  regiment,  and  that 
was  a  fact  calculated  to  inspire  confidence.  He  was  not 
likely  in  any  excitement  to  do  some  crazy  thing.  He  seemed 
never  to  get  excited.  The  lieutenant  who  temporarily  "lost 
his  head,"  figuratively  speaking,  in  the  fear  that  he  would 
lose  it  literally,  seemed  that  day  the  solitary  exception. 

From  the  right  of  the  line  Captain  Jones  was  sent  with 
his  squadron,  Companies  A  and  D,  across  the  fields  to  the 
west,  where  Powell  had  been  persistently  crowding  the  en 
emy  back.  Three  distinct  charges  Powell  had  made,  driving 
the  enemy  out  of  their  earthworks  on  the  hills,  capturing  the 
first  prisoners,  eighty  in  number,  and  two  guns.  Now  he 
was  working  his  way  around  Early 's  extreme  left,  attack 
ing  wherever  there  was  a  chance,  creating  an  uneasiness 
that  served  to  quicken  the  retreat  that  was  soon  to  begin. 

After  a  little  the  second  squadron,  Companies  H  and 
F,  from  the  right  of  the  regiment  was  sent  in  the  same  di 
rection.  The  third  squadron,  B  and  C,  did  not  have  a  com 
missioned  officer  present  in  the  line.  All  that  were  in  the 
field  were  doing  staff  duty — regimental,  brigade  and  di 
vision.  These  companies  were  commanded  by  Orderly  Ser 
geant  Beach  of  Co.  B.  Major  Quinn  had  been  out  in  the 
front  with  Averell.  Now  he  came  back  saying  that  there 
was  a  Confederate  gun  out  in  the  field,  supported  by  a  body 
of  cavalry,  and  Averell  wanted  a  part  of  this  regiment  to 
capture  that  gun.  He  ordered  the  sergeant  to  take  his  two 
companies  and  report  to  the  general.  The  order  wras 
promptly  obeyed.  There  was  warm  work  along  the  front 


WINCHESTER.  427 

line.  Bullets  were  flying  thickly  about,  and  every  few  sec 
onds  a  shell  came  plunging  through.  To  all  these  the  gen 
eral  seemed  indifferent.  He  was  intently  watching  the 
movements  of  the  opposing  lines,  and  the  chances.  Out  in 
the  open  field  was  the  gun  with  its  support.  The  men  of 
the  squadron,  ordered  up  to  take  that  gun,  gathered  their 
reins,  griped  their  sabres,  and  fixed  themselves  firmly  in 
their  saddles.  The  impulse  to  rush  forward  for  the  gun 
was  strong.  But  the  general  said,  "Wait,  wait;  they  are 
too  many  for  you.  Dismount  your  men  and  take  them  out 
along  that  stone  wall  and  get  a  cross  fire  on  them."  Leav 
ing  as  few  as  were  necessary  to  hold  the  horses,  the  sergeant 
and  the  rest  of  the  men  made  quick  time  in  getting  out  along 
the  wall  which  extended  out  to  the  right  of  the  gun.  Here, 
at  short  range,  with  their  carbines  they  poured  so  hot  a  fire 
into  the  flank  of  the  enemy  that  in  less  than  a  minute  the 
supporting  cavalry  began  to  waver.  Another  mounted 
force  from  Averell's  line  was  now  starting  forward  on  the 
charge.  Seeing  this  force  coming,  the  dismounted  men 
jumped  over  the  stone  wall  and  ran  at  the  top  of  their  speed 
toward  the  gun.  The  supports,  seeing  both  bodies  coming 
upon  them,  the  one  mounted  in  front  and  the  other  dis 
mounted  on  the  left,  fired  their  last  shots,  then  broke  and 
fled.  The  dismounted  men  were  at  the  captured  cannon  as 
soon  as  the  mounted  men  were,  and  exultingly  drew  it  in 
by  hand. 

As  the  army  closed  in  upon  the  enemy,  the  cavalry  of 
Merritt  and  that  of  Averell,  in  almost  a  continuous  line, 
presented  a  formidable  array.  There  was  still  a  body  of 
cavalry,  Fitz  Hugh  Lee's,  between  this  line  and  Winchester. 
Soon,  away  off  to  the  left,  bugles  were  sounding  the  charge. 
Quickly  the  call  was  repeated  and  passed  along  toward  the 
right.  Then  came  up  a  long  line  of  flashing  sabres.  A 
mile  and  more  of  horsemen  moved  forward  out  into  the 


428  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

wide,  open  plain.  Off  to  the  right  another  mile  and  more 
of  parts  of  a  less  continuous  line  were  moving  forward  with 
increasing  speed,  aiming  to  get  around  the  enemy's  left. 
In  all  the  annals  of  war  a  more  inspiring  sight  was  seldom 
seen  than  those  thousands  of  splendid  cavalry  moving  for 
ward  with  a  momentum  that  was  irresistible.  In  attempting 
to  withstand  the  onset  Fitz  Hugh  Lee  was  wounded,  and 
all  the  opposing  forces  were  sent  "whirling"  through 
Winchester. 

October  9,  Early  wrote  to  General  Lee : 

"Breckinridge  was  scarcely  in  position  before  our  cavalry  on  the 
left  was  discovered  coming  back  in  great  confusion  followed  by  the 
enemy's,  and  Breckinridge's  force  was  ordered  to  the  left  to  repel  this 
cavalry  force,  which  had  gotten  in  rear  of  my  left,  and  this  with  the 
assistance  of  the  artillery  he  succeeded  in  doing.  But  as  soon  as  the 
firing  was  heard  in  the  rear  of  our  left  flank,  the  infantry  commenced 
falling  back  along  the  whole  line,  and  it  was  very  difficult  to  stop  them. 
I  succeeded,  however,  in  stopping  enough  of  them  in  the  old  rifle  pits 
constructed  by  General  Johnston  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  enemy's 
infantry,  which  commenced  advancing  again,  when  confusion  in  our 
ranks  was  discovered,  and  we  would  still  have  won  the  day  if  our 
cavalry  would  have  stopped  the  enemy's,  but  so  overwhelming  was  the 
latter,  and  so  demoralized  was  the  larger  part  of  ours,  that  no  assist 
ance  was  received  from  it. 

The  enemy's  cavalry  again  charged  around  my  left  flank,  which 
began  to  give  way  again,  so  that  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  retire 
through  the  town." 

This  day's  work  is  referred  to  in  the  following  letter 
from  General  Averell : 

BATH,  N.  Y.,  April  loth,  1894. 
C.  T.  Williamson,  Recording  Secretary, 

First  New  York  Cavalry  Association. 

DEAR  SIR:  I  have  your  valued  favor  of  7th  inst,  asking  me  to 
attend  the  I2th  annual  meeting  of  your  association  to  be  held  on  the 
ipth  inst.,  and  I  hoped  to  have  the  pleasure  of  accepting  your  kind 
invitation,  but  to-day  I  have  received  notification  that  I  shall  be  ex 
pected  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  National 
Home  at  Hampton,  Va.,  on  the  i8th  inst.  The  meeting  will  probably 


WINCHESTER.  429 

last  two  or  three  days  and  will  prevent  me  the  pleasure  of  meeting  my 
old  friends  of  the  First  New  York  Cavalry. 

My  recollections  of  regiments  are  like  those  of  persons :  there 
were  no  two  alike,  each  had  its  distinguishing  characteristics,  and  some 
remain  well  defined  in  memory  while  others  are  dimmed,  but  of  none 
have  I  a  stronger,  clearer  memory  than  the  First  New  York  Cavalry. 
Its  chief  characteristics  were:  It  was  always  ready  for  duty,  day  or 
night;  never  complained;  could  camp  anywhere;  there  was  nothing 
heavy  about  its  dashing  cavalrymen  and  they  possessed  an  irrepressible 
"go".  One  of  the  handsomest  charges  of  cavalry  against  cavalry,  I 
ever  saw,  was  made  by  the  First  New  York,  on  the  iQth  of  September, 
'64,  at  Winchester.  I  remember  when  my  division  was  sweeping  across 
the  broad  fields  toward  Winchester,  capturing  the  obstinate  field  works 
of  the  enemy  on  our  right  and  swinging  around  upon  the  left  flank 
and  rear  of  Early's  infantry,  who  had  our  infantry  badly  doubled  back 
on  its  right  flank,  I  held  the  First  New  York,  then  dwindled  to  a 
handful  of  three  or  four  hundred  men,  in  reserve.  My  line  was  so 
extended  and  impetuous  in  its  advance,  that  a  small,  reliable  reserve 
was  necessary  to  use  in  the  exigencies  that  were  likely  to  arise.  We 
were  well  across  the  field,  carrying  the  little  forts  on  the  right  by 
assault,  and  driving  in  the  enemy's  flank  defense  from  behind  their 
stone  walls  and  corners,  when  a  body  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  appeared 
opposite  my  left  in  the  open  field,  supporting  a  field  piece  which  was 
opened  upon  my  lines  with  a  raking  fire.  They  were  three  or  four 
hundred  strong  and  were  in  good  order,  steady  and  resolute.  The 
distance  to  them  was  not  above  five  hundred  yards,  for  the  small-arm 
fire  of  their  cavalry  reached  the  ground  on  which  we  were  moving  and 
wounded  men  about  me. 

I  called  on  the  First  New  York  to  charge  them,  and  I  remember 
the  keen  interest  with  which  I  watched  the  operation.  It  was  a  fair 
field,  but  the  enemy  were  favored  with  the  gun.  The  numbers  were  as 
nearly  equal  as  possible.  I  felt  that  the  advantage  of  position  was 
with  the  enemy  on  slightly  elevated  ground.  The  First  New  York 
rode  in  column  steadily  at  a  slow  trot  in  the  face  of  a  small-arm  fire 
which  I  could  see  was  telling  on  their  horses  and  men.  It  was  a 
matter  of  three  minutes  from  the  time  the  order  was  given.  I  expected 
the  enemy  to  move  forward  to  meet  the  charge,  and  he  did  attempt  to 
do  so  when  it  was  too  late.  The  First  New  York  took  the  charge  at 
about  two  hundred  yards  and  was  upon  him,  and  the  field  was  swept 
back  in  that  direction  several  hundred  yards,  when  the  First  New 
York  rallied  in  good  order  and  the  gun  was  ours.  Others,  however, 
claimed  it  and  almost  everything  else  on  the  field  that  day,  even  the 
taking  of  the  forts  on  our  extreme  right,  together  with  the  guns  captured 


430  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

in  them.  But  the  brave  Captain  Duncan  of  the  I4th  Pennsylvania  cav 
alry  and  others  left  their  bodies  there  to  attest  the  work  of  my  division. 
I  am  now  engaged  in  a  raid  of  reminiscences  in  which  I  desire  to  collect 
and  preserve  some  records  of  the  soldiers  I  had  the  honor  to  command, 
and  I  will  be  greatly  obliged  if  some  of  your  association  will  kindly 
furnish  me  some  data  of  your  regiment  and  its  services  whilst  it  was 
in  my  division — a  summary,  chronological,  of  events  and  roster  of  offi 
cers,  to  corroborate  my  own.  My  years  have  doubled  since  I  knew 
you,  and  I  am  not  the  light  rider  I  was  in  those  trying  days.  I  feel 
honored  and  comforted  by  your  kind  remembrances.  Believe  me,  all 
of  you, 

Faithfully  yours, 

W.  W.  AVERELL. 


CHAPTER  XLL 

FISHER'S  HILL  TO  FRONT  ROYAL. 

- 

ARLY  continued  his  retreat  to  Fisher's  Hill,  twenty- 
J — /  one  miles.  The  regiment  passed  through  Win 
chester  after  its  all-day's  fighting  and  marching,  and  rested 
along  the  Romney  road.  At  daylight  of  the  2Oth,  the 
division  was  moving  up  the  Back  road  along  the  base  of 
North  Mountain,  and  at  noon  was  at  Cedar  Creek.  The 
rest  of  the  army  had  followed  the  pike.  The  different 
divisions  were  getting  into  position.  Early  was  behind 
strong  entrenchments  reaching  from  Massanutten  to  North 
Mountain. 

The  2ist,  the  division  advanced  as  it  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  doing  when  in  front  of  the  enemy,  in  columns  of 
squadrons,  and  was  soon  under  the  fire  of  the  opposing 
skirmish  line.  Quinn  was  on  other  duty,  and  Captain  Pas- 
segger  was  commanding  the  regiment.  In  the  attempt  to 
cover  considerable  frontage,  parts  of  the  regiment  became 
somewhat  separated.  But  by  long  experience  in  trying  sit 
uations  subordinate  officers  and  men  had  learned  to  judge 
for  themselves  what  was  the  best  thing  to  do. 

The  division  was  the  extreme  right.  There  was  quite 
an  interval  to  the  next  force  to  the  left.  A  patrol  was  sent 
across  this  interval  to  spy  out  the  situation.  This  patrol, 
passing  over  a  high  ridge,  had  a  chance  to  look  over  most 
of  the  field — Confederate  as  well  as  Federal  positions. 


431 


432  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Sheridan  and  his  staff  and  escort  were  riding  along  the  line 
looking  over  the  ground. 

At  daybreak  of  the  22nd,  all  were  prepared  for  active 
work.  Skirmishing  soon  began.  The  entire  skirmish  line 
was  advanced  within  plain  sight  and  rifle  distance  of  the 
Confederate  earthworks.  A  part  of  the  cavalry  was  dis 
mounted  and  thrown  out  to  strengthen  this  advanced  in 
fantry  skirmish  line.  The  horses  were  left  back  in  a  ra 
vine  while  the  dismounted  men  moved  forward,  deployed, 
over  a  high,  open  ridge.  At  the  foot  of  this  ridge  in  front 
was  quite  a  deep  ravine,  a  creek  running  through  it,  and 
half  way  up  the  opposite  slope  and  parallel  with  the  ridge 
were  the  long  lines  of  the  enemy's  earthworks.  For  hours 
those  skirmishers  within  easy  range  of  the  earthworks, 
under  a  hot  and  incessant  fire,  held  that  advanced  line. 

A  fine  looking  young  infantryman  was  lying  dead,  his 
face  upturned  to  the  hot  sun,  a  bullet  hole  in  his  forehead. 
A  comrade  said  of  him :  "He  was  a  fine  young  fellow,  and 
brave.  But  it  was  all  his  own  fault,  getting  killed.  He 
needn't  have  come  out  to-day.  It  wasn't  his  turn,  but  he 
would  come." 

The  enemy's  signal  flags  on  Three  Top  Mountain  were 
plainly  seen.  From  that  high  point  they  could  look  over 
all  the  ground  covered  by  Sheridan's  army.  But  out  of 
their  sight,  in  the  wooded  valley  behind  the  ridge  held 
by  the  advanced  line,  Crook  was  silently  moving  his  Eighth 
corps  to  a  position  beyond  Averell's  right.  This  done,  the 
dismounted  men  were  withdrawn  from  the  skirmish  line. 
On  the  line  they  had  been  protected  by  some  scattering  trees. 
But  in  moving  back,  still  deployed,  over  the  open  top 
of  the  ridge,  they  were  in  plain  sight  of  the  enemy,  and 
the  rifle  shots  came  thick  and  fast.  A  dull  thud,  a  sharp 
cry,  and  Dangler  of  Co.  B  dropped  to  the  ground,  the  bone 
of  his  leg  broken.  Three  or  four  of  the  company  were 


FISHER'S  HILL  TO  FRONT  ROYAL.  433 

called  to  carry  him  off.  As  they  were  taking  him  up,  the 
little  group  became  a  mark  for  a  shower  of  bullets.  But 
no  one  else  was  hurt.  In  the  evening  a  mate  stepped  into 
the  temporary  hospital  to  see  the  wounded  man.  His  leg 
had  been  amputated,  but  he  was  cheerful.  "Well,  Darby, 
you  see  I've  lost  my  leg,  but  Uncle  Sam  will  give  me  a 
wooden  one." 

The  men  mounted  their  horses,  and  by  squadrons  again 
moved  up  and  over  the  ridge.  Seeing  them  coming  in 
force,  the  Confederates,  all  along  their  line,  broke  forth 
with  shells,  grape,  canister  and  musketry.  In  their  ex 
citement  they  fired  high,  and  the  shots  tore  through  the 
tree  tops  like  a  storm  of  hail.  But  it  was  "Forward!"  all 
along  the  Union  line.  The  Eighth  corps  had  suddenly 
burst  upon  the  enemy's  left,  doubled  it  up  and  driven  it 
back.  The  mounted  squadrons,  through  the  terrific  fire 
that  was  hurled  at  them,  poured  down  the  side  of  the  ridge, 
into  the  ravine,  across  the  creek,  up  the  opposite  slope  and 
over  the  Confederate  earthworks,  the  regimental  colors 
being  the  first  in  the  works.  They  got  out  of  the  way  of 
Crook's  men,  passing  beyond  them,  as  the  latter  were  push 
ing  on  lengthwise  of  the  works,  a  long  cloud  of  blue  pow 
der  smoke  moving  to  the  left  showing  their  rate  of  motion 
toward  the  Massanutten  Mountain.  At  the  same  time  with 
the  crash  on  the  right,  Sheridan  along  the  Valley  pike  had 
broken  over  the  defences  in  front  of  the  Confederate  right 
and  center,  and  Early 's  army  was  in  full  retreat.  The  pur 
suit  along  the  pike  was  hot,  and  artillery,  wagons  and 
prisoners  were  overtaken  and  captured.  Averell's  cavalry 
took  the  Back  road,  and  mile  after  mile  pressed  on  after 
those  who  were  fleeing  in  that  direction. 

So  sudden  and  impetuous  had  been  the  assault,  that 
among  the  assailants  there  were  comparatively  few  casu 
alties.  Major  Passegger  had  a  ball  through  the  palm  of 


434  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

his  left  hand,  but  it  did  not  take  him  off  duty.  Sergeant- 
Major  Walter  had  a  piece  of  shell  strike  the  clasp  of  his 
sabre  belt  with  such  force  that  for  a  moment  he  lost  his 
strength  and  sense.  Adjutant  Hinton,  riding  near  him, 
thought  the  man  was  mortally  hurt,  and  sprang  to  his 
assistance.  But  he  quickly  recovered  himself.  Sergeant 
Franklin  McConnaughy  was  struck  in  the  arm  by  a  grape 
shot. 

In  Frank  Leslie's  Weekly  of  October  15,  1864,  was  a 
sketch  of  this  fight,  that  in  most  of  its  details  was  correct, 
though  representing  only  a  small  part  of  the  forces  engaged. 

Averell  had  received  no  special  orders  as  to  what  he 
should  do  after  the  works  were  taken.  After  pursuing  the 
enemy  until  they  were  out  of  his  reach,  he  returned  and 
stopped  for  the  night.  He  was  resting  in  an  ambulance. 
He  called  Valentine  whom  he  had  detailed  as  a  special 
scout.  "Polie,  get  in  here,  I  want  to  talk  with  you."  It 
was  Averell's  familiar  way  of  getting  all  the  information 
he  could  out  of  his  scouts. 

An  early  start  the  23rd.  Valentine  was  sent  to  find 
vSheridan,  and  report.  He  had  a  long  ride.  Sheridan 
seemed  to  have  been  traveling  all  night.  Valentine  found 
him  many  miles  ahead  at  the  extreme  front  on  the  skirmish 
line,  with  bullets  flying  thick  about  him.  He  saluted  and 
reported — "From  General  Averell."  Sheridan  knocked 
the  ashes  from  his  pipe  and  asked,  "Where  d'ye  stay  last 
night?"  "A  little  in  the  advance  of  yesterday's  battle 
ground."  "Ye  did  damned  well,  didn't  ye?"  Valentine 
felt  like  asking  what  he  had  to  do  with  it,  but  contented 
himself  with  saying  that  Averell  had  moved  early  up  the 
Back  road. 

The  division  marched  through  Woodstock,  past  the  in 
fantry  that  had  followed  up  the  pike  the  night  before,  and 
on  to  Mt.  Jackson  where  the  enemy's  rear  guard  had  made 


FISHER'S  HILL  TO  FRONT  ROYAL.  435 

a  stand.  Skirmished  several  hours,  and  at  night  fell  back, 
near  Mt.  Jackson. 

The  24th,  Averell  was  relieved  from  command.  Sheri 
dan's  army  now  included  Wright's  Sixth  corps,  and 
Emory's  Nineteenth  corps,  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
Crook's  Army  of  West  Virginia,  the  First  and  Third  cav 
alry  divisions  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under  Torbert 
and  J.  H.  Wilson,  and  Aver  ell's  Second  cavalry  division  of 
the  Army  of  West  Virginia.  The  three  cavalry  divisions 
were  now  organized  into  a  cavalry  corps.  Averell  ranked 
Torbert,  but  Sheridan  preferred  Torbert  as  commander  of 
the  corps.  General  Wesley  Merritt  now  commanded  the 
First  division,  and  Colonel  W.  H.  Powell,  who  had  com 
manded  the  Second  brigade  of  the  Second  division,  was 
now  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  division.  The  27th, 
Wilson  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Thomas  at  Nash 
ville,  and  Gen.  G.  A.  Custer  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  Third  division. 

Averell  complained  that  he  had  been  superseded  by 
Torbert  whom  he  ranked.  But  General  Grant  replied  to 
Sheridan :  "Do  not  hesitate  to  give  command  to  officers 
in  whom  you  repose  the  greatest  confidence,  without  re 
gard  to  rank  or  personal  claims.  What  I  want  is  prompt 
and  active  movements  after  the  enemy." 

Averell  had  been  an  active  and  successful  officer,  and 
his  division  had  contributed  much  to  the  winning  of  recent 
victories.  In  the  afternoon  he  reviewed  and  took  leave  of 
his  command. 

Colonel  Powell,  who  was  now  to  command  the  divis 
ion,  had  proved  himself  competent.  He  had  shown  a  dis 
position  to  strike  the  hardest  blows  he  could.  He  had  the 
confidence  of  the  men  from  the  first. 

The  24th,  the  regiment  was  up  all  night  on  picket  near 
Brock's  Gap. 


436  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

September  25,  relieved  early.  The  division  moves  up 
the  Back  road,  keeping  abreast  with  the  head  of  the  column 
on  the  pike.  Into  Harrisonburg.  In  the  hospital  we  find 
Garland  who  was  wounded  and  missing  at  Martinsburg, 
July  25.  He  has  been  treated  well.  Up  the  Staunton  pike 
and  across  North  river.  Stop  after  dark  at  Mt.  Crawford. 

September  26,  on  the  march  at  daylight,  up  the  pike. 
Turn  to  the  left  at  the  ten-mile  post.  Find  enough  of  the 
enemy  to  skirmish  with.  Over  the  battlefield  of  June  5, 
Piedmont.  Interested  in  recognizing  positions  held  that 
day.  A  courier  from  Torbert.  Turn  back  to  co-operate 
with  Merritt.  Get  warmly  engaged  with  the  enemy  near 
Brown's  Gap.  Fight  till  near  dark.  Fall  back  behind  the 
little  town  of  Mt.  Vernon.  The  fighting  has  been  in  the 
vicinity  of  Weyer's  cave.  Parties  of  the  regiment  have 
had  exciting  adventures. 

September  27,  lie  still  all  the  forenoon  near  the  en 
trance  to  Weyer's  cave.  Make  a  short  visit  to  the  cave. 
Good  foraging;  plenty  of  flour  and  beehives.  Have  honey 
on  our  pancakes.  Afternoon,  cross  the  river  to  draw  out 
the  enemy  supposed  to  be  in  Brown's  Gap.  Find  them, 
and  they  come  out  lively.  Line  of  skirmishers  moves  for 
ward,  with  Colonel  Powell  in  the  front.  Just  ready  to  ad 
vance  in  force  when  artillery  from  a  high  wooded  hill  opens 
on  our  rear.  Somewhat  surprised,  but  there  is  no  haste. 
Powell  is  as  cool  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  and  he  keeps 
the  rest  cool.  The  skirmishers  are  recalled.  Come  back 
across  the  river  leisurely.  The  regiment  forms  line  on  the 
brow  of  a  wide,  open  hill  facing  the  hill  on  which  is  the 
enemy's  artillery.  A  deep  ravine  in  front  that  horses  can 
not  cross.  Cannot  reach  the  enemy  with  carbines.  The 
regiment  is  to  hold  the  ground  till  the  wagons  are  out  of 
the  way.  Passegger  sits  quietly  in  front  of  the  center  of 
the  line;  other  officers  in  front  of  their  squadrons.  The 


FISHER'S  HILL  TO  FRONT  ROYAL.  437 

line  stands  firm  and  quiet.  A  shell  strikes  the  line,  and 
Merritt's  horse  is  wounded.  Another  shell,  and  Bailey's 
mare  has  a  hind  leg  taken  off  above  the  fetlock.  She 
plunges  about  in  the  ranks.  ''Get  your  mare  out  of  the 
line.  Take  off  the  bridle  and  hurry  to  the  rear/'  A  shell 
plunges  through  Stanton's  squadron.  He  turns  to  keep 
the  ranks  in  order.  A  rifle  ball  strikes  the  stock  of  his 
revolver,  shattering  the  stock  and  his  elbow.  He  is  wounded 
the  second  time  on  nearly  the  same  ground  on  which  he 
was  wounded  June  5.  The  line  holds  its  position  under 
that  continuous  artillery  and  rifle  fire  until  the  train  is  at 
a  safe  distance,  and  then  deliberately  retires.  Passegger  is 
struck  in  foot  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell.  A  rebel  train  of 
white-topped  wagons  is  seen  in  Brown's  Gap,  and  a  long 
column  of  infantry  is  moving  out,  and  coming  this  way. 
Custer  with  his  long,  curled,  yellow  hair,  and  his  jauntily- 
trimmed,  velvet  jacket,  watches  that  column  of  infantry 
through  his  field  glass.  "They  are  too  many  for  us,"  he 
says.  Fall  back  slowly  through  a  rough,  stumpy  field.  A 
fox  is  started  from  its  hiding  place,  and  the  men  break  from 
the  ranks  and  with  loud  shouts  join  in  a  wild  chase  after  it 
It  gets  away,  and  the  men  get  into  ranks  again  and  look 
out  for  the  Confederates  who  are  following.  At  dark  the 
entire  regiment  is  on  picket  about  Cross  Keys. 

September  28,  on  picket.  All  quiet  so  far  as  fighting 
is  concerned.  A  day  of  leisure.  Good  foraging.  Some 
one  finds  a  distillery  in  the  neighborhood.  He  takes  pos 
session  and  operates  it,  and  freely  distributes  the  raw 
product.  There  result  some  unexpected  diversions.  A 
tall,  large  son  of  Erin,  with  a  full  black  beard  that  comes 
down  to  his  belt,  and  a  hoarse,  heavy  voice  like  the  bellow 
ing  of  a  bull,  has  taken  too  much  of  the  apple  jack.  The 
boys  say  he  mixed  his  flour  with  apple  jack  instead  of  water 
in  making  the  batter  for  his  pancakes.  He  is  good  natured, 


438  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

but  he  gets  uproariously  patriotic.  He  mounts  a  box  and 
begins  to  speak.  He  soon  has  a  large  and  interested  audi 
ence.  He  can  be  heard  half  a  mile.  He  speaks  with  fervid 
eloquence.  He  continues  his  oration  until  the  spell  of  the 
apple  jack  is  over,  and  he  is  tired  out. 

The  diversion  is  varied:  A  slight-built  man  with  a 
thin,  high-pitched,  squeaking  voice,  like  his  countryman 
has  taken  too  much  of  the  fiery  liquid.  The  orator's  elo 
quence  has  touched  a  responsive  chord  and  stirred  his  emo 
tional  nature.  He  mounts  the  box  and  tries  to  speak.  But 
overcome  by  the  thought  of  his  country's  woes,  he  begins 
to  cry.  With  copious  tears  pouring  down  his  face,  he 
weeps  uncontrollably,  lifting  up  his  voice  so  loud  that  all 
the  camp  and  all  about  headquarters  can  hear.  Only  when 
completely  exhausted  does  he  cease. 

September  29,  the  command  moved  slowly  to  Mt.  Sid 
ney,  then  back  to  Mt.  Crawford.  On  the  way  the  work  of 
destruction  began.  Orders  were  to  leave  nothing  in  this 
fertile  Valley  on  which  a  hostile  army  could  subsist.  De 
tachments  were  sent  on  every  road,  with  orders  to  set  fire 
to  all  mills,  grain  and  hay.  Men  who  never  flinched  in 
the  hottest  fight  declared  they  would  have  no  hand  in  this 
burning.  Bivouacked  after  dark  at  Mt.  Crawford.  A 
rainy  night.  Rested  till  noon  of  the  3Oth,  then  moved  to 
Harrisonburg.  All  of  Sheridan's  army  was  here.  Cold 
and  rainy.  October  i  was  a  misty  morning,  and  a  cold, 
rainy,  dreary  day.  Powell's  division  marched  to  Conrad's 
store  at  the  head  of  the  Luray  valley.  Details  were  burn 
ing  barns  and  stacks,  and  driving  off  live  stock.  The 
smoke  of  the  burning  filled  the  air  as  far  as  one  could  see. 
On  farms  where  only  women  and  children  were  seen  there 
were  piteous  pleadings,  "Don't  burn  my  barn."  Burning 
supplies  that  would  support  an  army  was  a  legitimate  act 


FISHER'S  HILL  TO  FRONT  ROYAL.  439 

of  war,  but  there  was  nothing  to  be  gained  by  burning 
empty  barns. 

Lieut.  John  R.  Meigs,  a  staff  engineer,  son  of  the  quar 
termaster  general,  was  shot,  Sheridan  was  informed,  by 
bushwhackers,  and  buildings  in  the  vicinity  of  the  shooting 
were  burned.  General  Early  stated  that  three  of  his  scouts 
in  uniform  came  upon  Lieut.  Meigs  and  two  men,  and  or 
dered  them  to  surrender.  Meigs  shot  one  of  the  scouts 
and  he  himself  was  shot  in  open  fight. 

October  2nd  was  Sunday  and  a  warm,  bright  day. 
Followed  an  uneven,  but  pleasant  road  along  the  South 
Fork  down  the  Luray  valley.  The  woods  on  the  moun 
tains  were  in  their  brightest  autumn  colors.  Reached 
Luray  Court  House  with  large  droves  of  cattle  and  sheep. 
The  advance  had  to  fight  the  enemy  at  Luray  and  at 
Milford. 

The  next  day  hostile  parties  were  hovering  about. 
There  was  another  fight  at  Milford.  Some  of  the  regiment 
were  missing,  among  them  Sergeant  Dickerson,  an  honest, 
faithful  man  with  a  clear  mind  and  high  purposes,  but  not 
strong  enough  to  endure  all  these  hardships. 

Women  and  children  would  come  into  camp  for  the 
cattle  that  had  been  taken  from  them.  When  asked,  "Are 
you  good  Union  people?''  the  answer  generally  was,  "Oh, 
yes,"  pronounced  with  a  circumflex. 

Some  men  who  had  been  taken  prisoners  while  en 
gaged  in  unnecessary  marauding  were  shot.  It  was  evi 
dent  that  stragglers  taken  on  this  raid  would  not  be  treated 
leniently.  A  scouting  party  on  the  4th  brought  in  two  of 
Gilmore's  men.  The  next  day  they  were  executed  as  spies. 
The  hard  necessities  of  war  seemed  to  demand  it  for  the 
protection  of  Union  prisoners. 

A  scout  went  over  the  Blue  Ridge  to  Culpeper.  A  de 
tachment  from  the  other  brigade  and  Co.'s  F  and  M  drove 


440  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  herds  over  the  mountains  to  Sheridan's  camp  at  New 
Market. 

The  7th,  the  division  moved  from  Luray  to  Milford. 
The  men  of  B  and  C  with  serviceable  horses  were  to  escort 
Captain  Bailey,  now  on  Torbert's  staff,  to  headquarters  at 
Woodstock.  They  started  at  sunset,  forded  the  river, 
climbed  the  mountain  by  a  rocky,  zigzag  path  so  narrow 
and  steep  that  they  had  to  go  single  file,  then  down  into 
the  Fort  valley.  Crossed  the  valley  in  the  dark.  Lumph- 
rey,  in  charge  of  the  advance,  passed  himself  off  as  one  of 
Mosby's  men.  Stopping  at  a  house  for  a  drink,  he  asked 
the  lady  who  handed  him  a  cup  of  water,  if  any  of  Mosby's 
men  were  in  the  neighborhood.  She  replied :  "If  you  are 
one  of  Mosby's  men  you  ought  to  know." 

In  front  of  another  house  he  found  two  armed  Con 
federates.  After  talking  with  them  a  minute,  he  stated  his 
true  character  and  told  them  to  surrender.  They  sprang  to 
their  feet  and  showed  fight.  Several  shots  were  exchanged. 
One  of  these  struck  one  of  the  combatants  and  glanced, 
striking  an  old  man  sitting  near,  and  killed  him.  Others  of 
the  escort  coming  up,  the  two  men  surrendered,  and  with 
their  arms  and  horses  were  taken  along.  Followed  the 
road  through  some  thick  woods  that  made  the  darkness 
ten-fold  more  dense,  and  climbed  the  Massanutten  moun 
tain.  From  this  height  of  a  thousand  feet  the  men  looked 
down  on  the  camp  fires  of  Sheridan's  whole  army  "measure 
less  spread"  far  out  over  the  plains  below.  Some  broad 
bands  of  glimmering  light  were  there,  nearly  parallel,  placed 
.at  intervals,  at  right  angles  to  the  direction  of  the  moun 
tain.  It  took  a  few  minutes  to  tell  what  they  were — the 
windings  of  the  North  Fork  of  the  Shenandoah.  Late  in 
the  night  the  escort  reached  Torbert's  quarters,  after  a  ride 
of  twenty-seven  miles. 

October  8,  followed  Torbert  as  the  army  fell  back  to 


FISHER'S  HILL  TO  FRONT  ROYAL.  441 

Strasburg.  A  cold,  windy  day.  Bailey's  escort  was  to 
attend  another  officer  back  to  Powell. 

The  nth,  a  large  force  started  out  early,  across  the 
Blue  Ridge,  through  Chester  Gap,  Flint  Hill,  Little  Wash 
ington  and  Sperryville;  twenty-eight  miles.  Parties  of  the 
enemy  were  hovering  about  on  the  hills.  The  next  day, 
rode  about  the  country,  thirty  miles. 

Before  starting  on  the  morning  of  the  I3th,  one  of 
Mosby's  men  who  had  been  taken  the  day  before  was  hanged 
to  the  limb  of  a  tree  by  the  roadside,  and  labeled:  "In 
retaliation."  He  met  his  fate  bravely. 

Some  men  wrere  missing.  Mosby  had  hanged  some 
Federals  whom  he  had  caught  marauding.  Custer  had 
hanged  seven  of  Mosby's  men.  Mosby  out  of  a  number  of 
prisoners  selected  seven  by  lot,  and  executed  them.  And 
now  Powell  was  leaving  a  prisoner  hanging  by  the  road 
side.  At  such  a  time  as  this  some  of  our  men  were  miss 
ing.  Among  them  was  John  Stuart,  a  lively  young  fellow, 
often  unlucky  in  getting  into  difficulties,  but  shrewd  in  get 
ting  out  of  them.  He  was  picked  up  by  the  enemy.  He 
realized  that  it  was  not  a  good  time  to  be  taken  prisoner, 
and  that  he  would  need  to  use  all  his  wits  if  he  would  escape 
hanging.  He  was  mindful  of  the  advice  of  Hamlet,  "As 
sume  a  virtue  if  you  have  it  not,"  and  he  assumed  a  stu 
pidity  that  he  had  not,  a  stupidity  so  profound  and  impene 
trable  that  his  captors  could  make  nothing  out  of  him. 
Such  a  fool  was  not  worth  hanging.  As  slippery  and  quick 
as  an  eel,  he  glided  from  among  them  in  the  wink  of  an 
eye,  and  after  a  wearisome  jaunt  through  woods  and  over 
mountains  found  his  way  back  to  camp. 

October  14,  there  was  continuual  firing  beyond  Cedar 
Creek.  A  number  of  men  of  the  regiment  were  at  the  head 
quarters  of  Sheridan  and  other  generals,  and  they  were 
kept  busy. 


442  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  paymaster  was  in  camp.  He  had  been  a  long 
time  on  the  way.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  escort  him 
to  Winchester.  Some  Confederates  were  circling  around. 
The  men  were  inclined,  without  orders,  to  start  from  the 
column  and  give  chase.  One  was  caught.  The  i7th,  a 
detail  escorted  the  paymaster  to  Martinsburg.  Stopped 
once  more  in  Faulkner's  woods.  Gen.  Wm.  H.  Seward, 
son  of  the  secretary  of  state,  was  in  command  of  the  post. 
Lieut.  E.  C.  Watkins  was  captain  and  A.  A.  G.  He  de 
served  his  promotion. 

Early  seemed  dissatisfied  since  the  recent  engagements, 
and  was  watching  for  a  chance  to  retrieve  his  fortunes. 
His  cavalry  had  been  coming  near  enough  to  get  in  a  few 
shots  and  then  retiring.  The  morning  of  October  9,  Merritt 
went  up  along  the  pike  beyond  Strasburg,  while  Custer  had 
his  division  on  the  Back  road.  Rosser  and  Lomax  were 
there.  While  these  forces  on  the  Back  road  were  confront 
ing  each  other,  Custer  rode  in  front  of  his  command,  as 
some  of  the  knights  of  the  age  of  chivalry  are  reported  to 
have  done,  took  off  his  hat  and  bowed  low  in  plain  sight  of 
his  adversaries.  The  challenge  was  accepted.  Custer 's 
men  sprang  like  hounds  unleashed  for  the  chase.  The  Con 
federate  line  gave  way.  There  was  a  wild  pursuit  of 
twenty-six  miles,  known  as  the  Woodstock  races.  Lomax 
was  for  a  time  a  prisoner,  but  he  escaped  by  overthrowing 
his  captor.  The  trophies  were  300  prisoners,  a  dozen  guns 
and  fifty  wagons.  Every  day  to  the  I5th  there  were  cav 
alry  engagements.  Gen.  Merritt  reported  that  in  twenty- 
six  engagements,  aside  from  battles,  in  this  Valley  cam 
paign,  the  cavalry  had  lost  3,205  men  and  officers. 

Some  important  operations  were  being  planned,  and 
Sheridan  was  summoned  to  Washington.  The  i.5th,  he 
went  with  a  cavalry  escort  to  Front  Royal.  From  the  en 
emy's  signal  station  on  Three  Top  mountain  a  message  was 


FISHER'S  HILL  TO  FRONT  ROYAL.  443 

taken  by  Union  signal  officers.  It  was  from  Longstreet, 
advising  Early  to  be  ready  to  move  as  soon  as  he  could  join 
him,  and  together  they  would  crush  Sheridan.  From  Front 
Royal  Sheridan  sent  back  his  cavalry  to  Gen.  Wright  of  the 
Sixth  corps,  advising  him  to  call  in  Colonel  Powell,  and  look 
out  for  a  surprise  on  his  left. 

The  1 7th,  as  soon  as  the  conference  at  the  war  depart 
ment  was  over,  Sheridan  took  a  special  train  for  Martins- 
burg,  arriving  in  the  evening.  Captains  Stevenson  and 
Watkins  were  occupying  a  room  in  the  United  States  Hotel. 
They  gave  up  their  room  to  Sheridan.  Early  the  next 
morning  the  general  was  on  the  road  to  Winchester  where 
he  arrived  in  the  afternoon.  With  some  engineer  officers 
he  looked  about  the  place  with  a  view  to  its  adaptability  for 
a  defensive  position.  He  sent  a  courier  to  Gen.  Wright, 
and  received  word  from  him  that  all  was  quiet,  and  that  he 
had  ordered  a  reconnoisance  in  force. 

At  daylight  of  the  iQth,  an  officer  from  the  picket  line 
brought  word  that  there  was  heavy  firing  along  the  front. 
There  had  been  so  much  firing  for  the  last  few  days  that  it 
caused  little  concern.  About  9  o'clock,  Sheridan,  with 
some  of  his  staff,  mounted  and  rode  at  a  walk  through  Win 
chester.  At  Mill  creek,  a  mile  south  of  the  town,  their 
escort  was  waiting.  As  the  general  and  his  officers  passed, 
the  escort  fell  in  behind  them. 

The  sound  of  heavy  guns  came  to  them.  The  general 
leaned  forward  and  listened  as  he  rode.  Once  he  dis 
mounted,  placed  his  ear  to  the  ground  and  listened.  He 
seemed  disturbed.  Over  a  hill,  a  mile  farther  on,  a  train 
that  had  started  for  the  front  was  halted.  The  quartermas 
ter  in  charge  stated  that  an  officer  had  come  from  the  front 
and  advised  him  to  go  back  with  his  train,  as  the  army  had 
been  attacked  and  driven  back.  The  officer  having  given 
his  warning  had  immediately  started  for  the  front  again. 


444  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

This  being  reported  to  Sheridan,  he  directed  Major  George 
A.  Forsyth  to  select  fifty  of  the  best  mounted  men  from  the 
escort.  Then  saying  to  him :  "You  and  Captain  O'KeefTe 
will  go  with  me/'  and  nodding  to  the  others  as  much  as 
to  say:  "This  ride  will  be  too  much  for  you;  you  will  have 
to  stay  behind,"  he  gathered  his  reins,  touched  his  horse 
with  his  spur,  and  was  off.  The  two  officers,  side  by  side, 
rode  just  behind  him,  while  the  escort  on  a  brisk  gallop 
were  trying  to  keep  within  proper  distance. 

More  supply  trains  had  turned  back,  or  were  standing 
still.  Checking  his  speed  long  enough  to  tell  those  in  charge 
to  park  their  trains  right  there,  he  struck  his  rapid  gait 
again.  More  trains :  he  repeats  his  orders  to  have  the 
trains  parked.  Train  escorts  were  to  check  all  stragglers 
and  send  them  to  the  front. 

Over  another  rise  in  the  road,  and  the  pike  and  the 
fields  were  seen  to  be  filled  with  headquarters  wagons,  led 
horses,  ambulances  loaded  with  wounded,  sutlers'  wagons, 
straggling  soldiers  and  officers'  servants.  Through  and 
past  this  confused  mass  hurried  the  general.  The  scene 
was  continued  and  intensified.  Squads  of  soldiers  here  and 
there  had  stacked  their  arms  and  were  eating  their  break 
fast.  But  they  had  caught  sight  of  the  general  and  shouted 
his  name.  The  shouting  increased  as  he  rode  on,  never 
slacking  his  pace.  They  waved  their  hats  and  cheered. 
And  all  across  the  fields  the  retrograde  movement  was 
checked.  There  was  a  movement  the  other  way.  Sheridan 
as  he  kept  his  great  pace  kept  calling  to  those  within  hear 
ing,  "Turn  back!  Face  the  other  way!"  Forsyth  says, 
"As  he  dashed  on  to  the  field  of  battle,  for  miles  back  the 
turnpike  was  lined  with  men  pressing  forward  after  him  to 
the  front."  His  escort  had  been  left  behind.  Only  the  offi 
cer  commanding  it  and  a  few  of  the  best  mounted  men  were 
in  sight.  "That  long,  swinging  gallop  of  his  splendid  black 


FISHER'S  HILL  TO  FRONT  ROYAL.  445 

charger,  Rienzi,  that  he  seemed  to  maintain  so  easily  and 
so  endlessly,  was  a  distressing  one  for  those  who  had  to 
follow  far."* 

Once  on  the  field,  he  and  his  officers  drew  rein,  and 
soon  had  taken  in  the  situation.  Some  of  the  forces  had 
rallied  and,  with  standards  flying,  were  facing  the  enemy. 
A  battery  of  artillery  was  exchanging  shots  with  a  Confed 
erate  battery.  The  news  that  Sheridan  had  come  acted  like 
a  magical  tonic.  Men  stood  more  firmly  in  line,  with  mus 
cles  strained  for  another  conflict.  Some  changes  in  posi 
tions  were  made  and  the  men  began  to  be  impatient  to  move 
forward.  Officers  reported  to  Sheridan,  that  the  lines  were 
all  ready.  "Not  yet.  Wait  a  little,"  was  his  answer.  The 
waiting  only  made  the  men  more  impatient.  Finally  the 
order  was  given.  The  onrush  was  well  nigh  irresistible. 
The  cavalry  on  the  right  had  been  attacked  on  their  flank, 
but  had  repelled  the  attack.  Now,  in  a  confused  rout,  with 
infantry  driving  them  in  front  and  cavalry  crowding  them 
in  flank,  every  cavalryman  seeming  to  press  forward  for  a 
chance  to  get  a  sabre  blow  at  some  of  them,  the  enemy 
abandoned  everything  in  headlong  flight.  They  had  made 
some  determined  efforts  to  make  a  stand,  but  were  in  full 
retreat  beyond  Strasburg. 

Major  Forsyth  had  gone  on  with  those  in  pursuit.  It 
was  dark  when  he  returned. 

"Camp  fires  were  blazing  everywhere.    I  went  up  to  the  chief,  who 
was  standing  near  a  bright  fire,   surrounded  by  a  group  of  officers, 


horse  that  saved  the  day"  was,  after  its  death,  entrusted  to 
Prof.  Henry  A.  Ward,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  It  was  prepared  by 
taxidermists  and  placed  in  the  government  museum  on  Governor's 
Island,  New  York  Harbor. 

He  was  not  always  "as  black  as  the  steeds  of  night."  Like  many 
of  the  finest  bred  horses,  his  new  coat  in  the  spring  was  black  and 
glossy,  but  in  the  outdoor  life  of  a  summer  campaign  the  color  would 
change  to  a  dark  brown. 


446  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

and  saluted,  reporting  my  return.  'Where  do  you  come  from?'  Be 
yond  Strasburg.'  'What  news  have  you?'  The  road  is  lined  with 
transportation  of  almost  every  kind,  and  we  have  captured  forty-four 
pieces  of  artillery.'  'How  do  you  know  we  have  forty-four  pieces?' 
'I  have  placed  my  hand  on  each  and  every  gun.'  Standing  there  in 
the  firelight  I  saw  my  chief's  face  light  up  with  a  great  wave  of  satis 
faction." 

(Forsyth's  Thrilling  Days  in  Army  Life.    By  permission  of  Harper 
Brothers.) 


FIELD  OF  FISHER'S   HILL. 


BANKS'   FORT,   STRASBURG. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 
THE  FRONT  ROYAL  ROAD. 

NO  detachment  of  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  October  19.  Powell's  division  was  on  the  Front 
Royal  road.  But  the  men,  half  a  hundred  or  so,  serving 
.as  scouts  for  Sheridan  and  other  generals,  had  a  busy  day 
of  it.  Their  adventures  would  make  a  long  chapter.  By 
November  i ,  the  various  parts  of  the  regiment  were  brought 
together  again  near  Front  Royal. 

By  acts  of  "the  legislatures  of  most  of  the  northern 
states,  the  soldiers  in  the  field  were  allowed  to  vote  at  the 
general  election.  The  4th  was  election  day  in  camp. 
Nearly  all  voted  for  Lincoln,  and  those  from  New  York 
voted  for  Fenton  for  governor. 

The  5th,  a  scout  to  Millwood  and  a  long  skirmish  with 
scattered  horsemen  who  kept  at  a  distance.  The  7th,  a 
large  detail  went  through  Manassas  Gap  to  Piedmont.  Gen. 
Augur's  force  that  had  been  here,  had  been  withdrawn,  and 
the  railroad  track  taken  up.  The  8th,  the  detail  was  rid 
ing  around  through  Fauquier  county,  with  Confederates  in 
sight  on  all  sides,  but  too  well  mounted  to  be  caught.  Halt 
for  the  night  near  Paris.  A  dark  and  rainy  night.  Sleep 
in  a  fence  corner.  The  9th,  on  the  march  early.  Gather  a 
herd  of  cattle.  Pass  through  Ashby's  Gap.  A  young 
heifer  breaks  from  its  enclosure  near  a  house  by  the  road 
side  and  runs  along  by  the  side  of  the  column.  A  couple 


447 


448  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  young  girls — there  were  no  men  at  home — run  to  over 
take  and  turn  back  the  heifer.  The  men  in  the  column  try 
to  help  them.  But  the  heifer  is  fleet  of  foot  and  runs  down 
the  gap  to  the  herd  ahead  of  the  column.  The  girls,  all  out 
of  breath  with  running,  give  up  the  chase  and  turn  back, 
one  of  them  saying,  "I  guess  she's  gone  up  the  spout." 
Ford  the  river  at  Berry's  ferry;  through  Millwood  and 
White  Post  to  Newtown,  a  trip  of  nearly  one  hundred  miles. 
Sheridan's  army  falling  back.  The  loth,  make  an  early 
march  back  to  Winchester  and  out  five  miles  on  the  Front 
Royal  road,  and  at  Frederick  Mills  make  Camp  Powell. 
The  nth,  new  recruits  arrive  for  all  the  companies.  The 
1 2th,  two  companies  are  ordered  to  remain  and  guard  the 
camp.  All  the  rest  of  the  division  ordered  out.  Some  Con 
federates  circling  about  at  a  distance.  The  two  companies 
on  the  alert  to  guard  the  camp  on  all  sides.  A  cold,  windy, 
tedious  day.  Just  at  night  the  division  returns,  having 
routed  the  enemy  at  Nineveh  and  chased  them  beyond  Front 
Royal,  eight  miles  in  forty  minutes;  killing  about  forty  and 
taking  two  hundred,  with  two  cannons  and  two  flags.  Cap 
tain  Prendergast  killed. 

To  this  brief  diary  record  a  more  complete  account  is 
needed. 

For  his  brilliant  services  Powell  had  been  made  a  briga 
dier  general.  He  was  commanding  the  division  and  Colonel 
Henry  Capehart  was  commanding  the  Second  brigade.  The 
First  brigade,  or  a  part  of  it,  had  gone  out,  and  beyond 
Front  Royal  had  encountered  McCausland's  division  of 
Lomax's  cavalry.  The  Confederates  were  too  strong  for 
the  Federals  and  the  latter  slowly  fell  back.  Word  was 
sent  to  General  Powell  and  he  ordered  out  the  Second  brig 
ade.  This  was  composed  of  the  First  New  York,  Col.  A. 
W.  Adams,  First  West  Virginia,  Major  Harvey  Farabee, 
and  the  Third  West  Virginia,  Lieut.  Col  John  L.  McGee. 


THE  FRONT  ROYAL  ROAD.  449 

Going  forward  rapidly  several  miles,  they  met  the  other 
brigade  falling  back,  the  enemy  following.  Powell  promptly 
assigned  the  regiments  their  positions — the  First  New  York 
in  the  center,  the  First  West  Virginia  on  the  right,  and  the 
Third  on  the  left.  Through  intervals  in  this  line  the  First 
brigade  passed  to  the  rear,  and  the  Second  moved  forward. 
The  Confederates  had  halted  in  line  on  high  ground  with 
artillery  in  position. 

Company  E  was  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  regiment. 
Perhaps  on  this  account  it  was  thought  that  it,  better  than 
any  other,  might  make  a  little  reconnoissance  on  the  flank 
of  the  enemy.  At  any  rate,  an  order  came  for  Co.  E  to 
ride  forward  toward  the  enemy  and  see  what  men  and  artil 
lery  they  had.  Captain  Daber  was  in  command,  an  officer 
not  large  in  stature,  but  always  efficient,  good  natured, 
genial  and  prompt.  With  his  usual  cheerfulness  he  turned 
to  his  company  and  said,  "Dis  eest  de  last  of  us,  poys.  Fol 
low  me.  Forwart!"  and  at  once  dashed  forward  with  all 
his  men  close  behind  him.  Said  Fiala,  "I  shut  my  eyes  as 
we  started  on  that  ride.  We  rode  within  fifty  yards  of  the 
enemy's  line,  saw  what  there  was  of  them,  wheeled  and 
came  back.  The  Johnnies  looked  at  us  in  astonishment,  and 
did  not  fire  one  shot." 

Captain  Prendergast  was  provost  marshal  of  the  divis 
ion,  and  him  Powell  sent  with  the  order  for  the  brigade  to 
charge.  The  men  all  saw  Powell  with  his  habitual  coolness 
watching  every  movement.  Prendergast,  after  giving  the 
order,  took  his  place  in  front  of  his  own  company,  F.  Daber's 
company  had  just  returned  to  its  place,  and  the  whole  line, 
Col.  Adams  and  the  other  officers  in  front,  started  forward 
on  a  trot,  and  soon  broke  into  a  headlong  gallop,  charging 
over  and  through  the  enemy's  line;  upon  the  guns,  striking 
the  gunners  down ;  hurling  men  from  their  horses. 

The  West  Virginia  regiments  on  the  right  and  left 


450  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

doubled  up  the  flanks  and  closed  in  on  the  center.  The 
collision  was  a  fearful  mingling  of  men  and  horses,  clash 
ing  and  struggling.  But  it  was  of  short  duration.  Those 
of  the  enemy  that  could  do  so  broke  away  and  rode  for  their 
lives.  For  eight  miles  the  chase  was  kept  up,  plunging 
through  both  Forks  of  the  Shenandoah,  through  and  beyond 
Front  Royal. 

For  the  promptness  with  which  this  charge  was  made 
some  credit  is  due  to  Corporal  Martin  H.  Welch  of  Co.  F, 
who  carried  the  regimental  colors.  As  soon  as  the  order 
was  given  he  started  forward  and  kept  the  colors  far  in 
advance  of  the  line.  All  the  officers  were  in  the  lead,  but 
no  man  held  back. 

Captain  Prendergast  of  Co.  F  was  killed,  a  ball  striking 
him  in  the  breast  just  before  reaching  the  enemy's  line;  an 
other  ball  killing  his  horse  at  the  same  instant.  He  was  a 
young  Englishman,  somewhat  exacting  with  his  men  and 
not  popular  with  all,  but  he  had  been  fearless  and  capable 
in  many  engagements. 

The  1 3th,  nearly  the  entire  division  was  ordered  out 
soon  after  daylight.  Went  to  Middletown  and  formed  a 
junction  with  the  other  two  divisions,  and  marched  up  to 
meet  the  enemy  again,  but  they  had  gone  beyond  reach. 
Returned  after  nightfall,  having  ridden  thirty  miles. 

The  1 4th,  at  dress  parade,  Colonel  Capehart  made  a 
speech  to  the  brigade,  and  had  general  orders  read  com 
plimenting  all  who  had  borne  a  part  in  the  fight  of  the  I2th, 
one  of  the  cleanest  cavalry  fights  in  which  the  regiment  was 
ever  engaged. 

There  came  good  news  of  the  result  of  the  election, 
Lincoln  having  received  212  electoral  votes  to  21  for.  Mc- 
Clellan.  On  the  eve  of  the  election  McClellan  had  resigned 
his  commission  as  major  general  in  the  regular  army,  and 
Sheridan  was  appointed  in  his  place. 


THE  FRONT  ROYAL  ROAD.  451 

The  1 6th,  a  large  detail  went  through  the  country  about 
Millwood.  Confederates  were  in  sight,  but  out  of  reach. 
The  1 7th,  the  regiment  went  out  early.  The  advance  drove 
a  party  of  the  enemy  beyond  Front  Royal,  but  captured  none. 

The  2  ist,  the  whole  division  was  ordered  out.  At 
Newtown  it  was  joined  by  the  other  two  cavalry  divisions, 
making  a  formidable  force  with  Gen.  Torbert  in  command. 
A  misty  morning,  and  a  rainy,  dark  day.  Encamped  at 
Woodstock  after  a  march  of  twenty-eight  miles.  Muddy 
and  cold.  The  22nd,  reveille  was  sounded  at  4 130.  On 
the  march  at  daylight.  At  Mt.  Jackson  the  enemy's  pickets 
were  found  and  driven  back.  Evidently  the  enemy  was  in 
force  not  far  away.  Crossed  the  river  and  formed  line  on 
the  Meem  bottoms  to  the  left  of  the  pike.  The  First  brig 
ade  with  parts  of  the  other  divisions  were  to  the  right.  The 
long  line  to  the  right  and  left,  began  to  move  forward  over 
the  wide,  low  plain.  In  the  meantime  a  mounted  band  that 
had  been  left  on  the  hill  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  began 
to  play  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner."  We  were  to  fight  to 
the  stirring  strains  of  music.  The  right  of  the  line,  as  it 
advanced,  soon  developed  a  strong  force  of  cavalry  in  its 
front.  At  first  the  skirmishers  and  then  the  line  itself  be 
came  hotly  engaged.  The  fighting  was  with  firearms  and 
not  at  first  at  close  range.  As  they  pressed  forward  the 
fighting  became  furious.  The  Confederates  advanced  and 
the  Union  line  was  forced  back,  but  it  recovered  itself  and 
pressed  forward  again,  and  the  enemy  were  driven  back  to 
the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  spiteful  shots  were  incessant,  and 
a  thin  cloud  of  blue  smoke  hung  over  the  combatants  who 
were  shouting  and  struggling  in  their  repeated  charges  and 
counter  charges.  The  ground  became  strewn  with  fallen 
horses  and  men.  In  the  crash  of  firearms  and  the  shouts, 
cheers  and  yells  of  these  charging  masses,  the  music  of  the 


4-52  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

band  was  unheard.     The  Confederates  were  in  too  large  a 
force  to  be  driven. 

The  Second  brigade  in  a  double  line  reaching  far  to 
the  left,  slowly  but  steadily  advanced  toward  the  long,  high 
hill  in  front,  until  a  compact  line  of  Confederate  infantry, 
nearly  the  length  of  the  hill,  moving  up  from  the  other  side 
appeared  upon  the  crest.  The  cavalry  stood  firm  under  the 
opening  fire  of  this  infantry.  The  steadiness  of  that  line  of 
cavalry  fronting  that  of  infantry  on  the  hill  was  commented 
on  by  officers  and  men  of  other  brigades  in  a  position  to  see 
it,  as  something  seldom  equalled.  The  infantry  on  the  crest 
of  the  hill  stopped  and  looked  down  upon  it  as  they  would 
upon  a  review. 

The  cavalry  expedition  was  only  a  reconnoissance  in 
force.  The  enemy  had  been  found  and  made  to  show  their 
numbers.  They  were  too  many  to  be  dislodged.  The  cav 
alry  recrossed  the  river  and  returned  to  Woodstock  for  the 
night ;  a  march  of  thirty  miles. 

The  23rd  was  windy  and  very  cold.  On  the  road  at 
daybreak.  After  a  tedious  ride  of  another  thirty  miles,  the 
regiment  reached  home  at  nightfall,  chilled  and  hungry,  to 
find  its  camp  occupied  by  a  wandering  regiment  of  infantry. 
It  was  all  right  while  we  were  away,  but  now  that  we  had 
returned,  they  were  not  long  in  giving  us  possession. 

November  24 — Thanksgiving.  A  pleasant  day.  An 
inspection  of  all  unserviceable  horses  is  being  made.  Divis 
ion  headquarters  bugle  suddenly  sounds  "Boots  and  saddles." 
"Saddle  up,  everybody!"  An  attack  on  the  outposts. 
Quickly  mounted  and  in  line.  A  few,  without  orders,  break 
out  of  camp  and  make  for  the  rebels.  Near  a  hundred  of 
the  enemy  have  tried  to  capture  a  foraging  party.  The  few 
Federals  that  they  have  captured  are  retaken  and  some  of 
the  assailants  are  brought  in. 

Turkeys  and  other  appropriate  things — boxes  and  bar- 


THE  FRONT  ROYAL  ROAD.  453 

rels  of  them — sent  by  generous  people  at  home,  are  distrib 
uted.  With  one  eye  on  the  lookout  for  hungry  rebels  prowl 
ing  around  the  camp,  we  eat  our  Thanksgiving  feast  with 
out  further  molestation,  and  are  thankful.  The  times  look 
better.  "Where  is  Sherman  going?"  The  men  are  mak 
ing  comfortable  quarters. 

December  7th,  skirmishing  with  some  of  Mosby's  men. 
The  morning  of  the  loth,  snow  was  a  foot  deep.  The  i6th, 
a  large  force  ordered  out.  Roads  icy.  Horses  have  to  be 
sharp  shod.  To  Millwood,  Berry's  ferry  and  Milldale. 
Along  by  the  side  of  the  river.  From  the  rocks  on  the  side 
of  the  mountain  directly  across,  some  sharp  shooters  have  a 
close  range.  Captain  Krynizki  of  Co.  I  at  the  head  of  the 
column.  A  rifle  ball  passes  through  all  his  clothing  from 
the  cape  of  his  overcoat  to  his  undershirt,  and  leaves  a  track 
of  broken  skin  across  the  upper  part  of  his  chest.  He  de 
cides  that  there  is  no  necessity  of  holding  that  position  any 
longer.  Returning  to  camp  he  is  made  the  subject  of  many 
good  natured  observations.  The  next  day  some  of  the  I4th 
Pennsylvania  patrolling  the  same  road,  suffered  severely 
from  those  sharp-shooters. 

A  hundred  guns  fired  in  honor  of  Thomas'  victories  at 
Nashville. 

December  19,  up  early.  Orders  to  break  camp.  Form 
line  and  wait  till  the  First  division  passes.  A  large  force. 
Roads  very  muddy.  Ford  the  forks  of  the  Shenandoah. 
Water  high.  Stop  for  the  night  in  Chester  Gap;  eighteen 
miles. 

December  20,  march  at  daylight.  Games'  Cross  roads, 
Little  Washington,  Sperryville,  Hugh's  river.  Plenty  of 
rails  and  hay.  Thirty-one  miles. 

December  21,  a  cold,  snowy,  sleety  day.  Mud  deep, 
and  freezing  before  night.  March  slowly  across  lots, 
through  woods,  on  narrow,  muddy  roads,  up  and  down  hills, 


464  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ford  swift,  swollen  streams.  Twelve  miles  in  all  day,  equal 
to  50  on  a  decent  road.  Bivouac  in  a  frozen  cornfield  near 
Robinson's  river.  Very  cold.  Plenty  of  forage  and  fire 
wood. 

December  22,  start  early.  Confederates  lying-  dead 
along  the  road,  killed  while  skirmishing  with  the  advance. 
Find  bridges  burned  at  Liberty  Mills.  Ask  an  old  colored 
man  what  river  that  is.  He  has  an  impediment  in  his 
speech,  and  makes  frightful  contortions  as  he  answers, 
"D-d-e  R-r-r-a-a-a-apidan,  suh."  Almost  sorry  we  asked 
him.  Wait  till  nearly  night,  skirmishing  at  long  range, 
with  the  river  between  the  lines.  Captain  Martindale  is 
watching  the  enemy  through  his  glass  when  a  rifle  ball  passes 
through  his  cap  and  touches  heavily  the  top  of  his  head.  He 
has  never  shown  fear,  but  he  feels  nervous.  He  goes  back 
and  sits  down  to  rest.  Finally,  different  detachments  cross 
at  different  fords.  Some  sharp  fighting,  and  the  Confed 
erates  retire  in  haste,  leaving  behind  two  guns.  The  most 
of  the  regiment  on  picket  south  of  the  river.  Intensely 
cold,  with  snow  squalls.  Twenty-one  miles. 

December  23,  recross  the  river;  wait  in  line.  Cross 
the  river  again,  and  go  toward  Orange  C.  H.  A  big,  old 
camp  of  Confederate  huts.  Go  several  miles  toward  Gor- 
donsville.  Find  the  enemy  too  strong.  Retire.  Icy  roads. 
March  till  1 1  at  night  and  halt  in  thick  pine  woods.  Bitter 
cold.  Make  our  beds  on  crusted  snow  a  foot  deep ;  twenty 
miles. 

December  24,  weather  moderating.  March  early  to 
ward  Warrenton.  Icy  roads.  Bad  streams  to  ford.  Plenty 
of  hay,  corn,  flour,  and  smoke  houses  full  of  hams.  Halt  in 
the  woods  near  Aestham  river ;  twenty- four  miles. 

Christmas. — An  early  start,  but  slow  progress.  In 
the  rear  of  the  column.  Go  hardly  two  miles  by  noon.  Ford 
the  Aestham  river,  deep,  swollen,  rapid,  full  of  floating  ice. 


A   VETERAN  MARE — TWENTY   YEARS  AFTER. 


THE   BATTLEFIELD  OF  MIDDLETOWN — SHERIDAN'S  RIDE. 


THE  FRONT  ROYAL  ROAD.  455 

Roads  narrow,  crooked  and  icy.  Some  large  stacks  of  hay 
at  Hedgeman  river.  The  horses  know  a  good  thing  when 
they  see  it.  They  seem  to  want  to  help  lift  the  surcingle 
bundles  upon  their  own  backs.  The  stacks  are  carried  along 
to  the  stopping  place.  A  hay  brigade.  Rest  in  the  woods 
by  the  river  near  Warrenton  sulphur  springs.  A  rainy 
night. 

December  26,  on  the  march  long  before  day.  Raining 
and  very  dark.  Pass  the  ruins  of  the  once  fine  buildings  at 
the  springs.  Through  Jefferson,  Warrenton  and  Salem. 
Confederates  circling  around  at  a  distance.  Have  a  little 
excitement  with  them.  On  the  advance  during  the  day,  and 
on  picket  to-night.  Near  Paris,  thirty  miles. 

December  27,  in  the  rear  of  the  division.  Ford  at 
Berry's  ferry.  Trouble  in  getting  the  droves  of  cattle  and 
sheep  across  the  swollen  river.  At  night  reach  our  old 
camp  to  find  it  dismantled  and  deserted.  A  cold,  squally 
night.  Make  the  best  of  it  in  our  little  shelter  tents ;  twenty- 
five  miles. 

The  3Oth,  struck  tents,  packed  up,  and  on  the  road  soon 
after  daylight.  Marched  to  Winchester,  then  out  on  the 
Berryville  road,  then  to  the  left,  and  halted  in  a  large  piece 
of  woods  on  a  part  of  the  battlefield  of  September  19 — the 
end  of  a  typical  winter  scout. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

WINTER  CAMP :    RETROSPECTS  AND 
PROSPECTS. 

Bf  the  first  of  January  the  new  camp,  Camp  Russell,  was 
laid  out  in  good  order,  and  all  were  busy  putting-  up 
substantial  quarters. 

General  Powell's  headquarters  were  in  a  fine  stone 
house  two  miles  from  Winchester.  Colonel  Capehart,  com 
manding  the  Second  brigade,  had  his  quarters  in  a  large, 
unfinished  brick  house  half  a  mile  from  the  camp  of  the 
regiment  toward  the  Opequon,  near  Wood's  mills.  The 
First  brigade  was  nearer  town.  The  First  division  was 
along  the  Front  Royal  pike,  the  Third  along  the  Romney 
road.  Some  of  the  infantry  had  been  sent  to  Grant.  What 
was  left  lay  between  the  town  and  Stephenson's  Depot. 

On  looking  over  the  past  year's  diary  there  was  found 
recorded  the  distance  traveled  on  horseback  in  the  line  of 
duty,  2,460  miles;  the  year's  travel  by  railroad,  mostly  on 
duty,  including  veteran  furlough,  amounted  to  2,980  miles. 

Winter  quarters  were  made  comfortable.  There  were 
the  four  walls  of  logs,  from  three  to  five  feet  high.  Over 
these  was  a  roof  of  canvas,  or  shelter  tents  fastened  to 
gether.  An  ample  fireplace  of  brick  or  stone  surmounted 
by  a  chimney  of  sticks  laid  in  mud,  perhaps  topped  off  with 
a  headless  barrel.  These  huts,  generally  uniform  in  style, 
smaller  or  larger  according  to  the  number  of  men  in  the 

456 


ConrtPsy  of  M.  Umbdenatock. 


WILLIAM  H.  POWELL. 


WINTER  CAMP  :     RETROSPECTS  AND  PROSPECTS.    457 

different  messes,  were  fitted  up  with  bunks  and  many  other 
home-made  conveniences.  Comfortable  stables  were  made. 

There  was  leisure  for  reviewing  records  and  bringing 
reports  up  to  date.  There  were  some  grievances  to  be  sat 
isfied.  There  were  high  officers  whose  dignity  had  to  be 
maintained,  even  if  some  one  else  had  to  suffer  for  it.  A 
brigade  court  martial  was  ordered.  Colonel  Capehart  had 
entered  the  service  as  a  surgeon,  but  had  preferred  fighting 
to  healing,  and  had  been  advanced  to  a  colonelcy.  He  had 
done  some  good  fighting.  But  he  was  sensitive.  After  a 
day's  march  he  had  sent  an  officer  to  direct  the  regiment  to 
go  into  camp  in  a  certain  place.  The  place  was  unsuitable. 
Adjutant  Hinton,  to  whom  the  order  was  given,  seeing  the 
unfitness  of  the  position,  half  unconsciously  said  to  himself 
something  about  such  an  order  being  that  of  "a  d — d  fool." 
The  words  were  overheard  by  the  officer  who  had  brought 
the  order.  He  reported  the  expression  to  the  colonel  as 
being  applied  to  him. 

Also,  Major  Battersby  had  been  acting  as  inspector 
general.  He  had  asked  the  adjutant  to  make  out  for  him 
a  report  of  the  inspection  of  the  regiment.  This  the  ad 
jutant  declined  to  do,  saying  it  was  not  his  place  to  do  other 
officers'  work  for  them.  For  these  two  things  charges  were 
preferred  against  him — for  refusing  to  obey  orders,  and 
disrespect  to  a  superior  officer.  Before  the  court  he  ad 
mitted  that  he  had  refused  to  make  out  the  inspection  re 
port,  and  justified  himself  in  doing  so;  it  was  not  a  part  of 
his  work.  He  also  admitted  having  used  the  words  related 
in  the  second  charge.  But  he  contended  that  they  had  not 
been  addressed  directly  to  any  person,  nor  used  as  specific 
ally  applying  to  any  person.  He  had  spoken  the  words 
muttering  to  himself,  and  he  was  not  amenable  to  the  court 
for  what  things  he  had  seen  fit  to  say  to  himself.  The  fact 
that  he  had  been  overheard  talking  to  himself  did  not  make 


458  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  matter  any  more  serious.  He  would  say,  moreover,  that 
if  he  had  spoken  the  words  in  a  way  intended  to  be  applied 
to  the  complaining  officer,  or  anyone  who  could  issue  such 
an  absurd  order,  he  thought  the  charge  would  be  susceptible 
of  proof.  He  was  acquitted  on  both  charges. 

There  were  so  many  officers  serving  on  staff  duty  that 
some  of  the  companies  were  short  of  officers.  There  was 
no  non-commissioned  officer  for  one  of  the  details  on  a 
picket  post,  and  a  trusty  private  was  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  it.  The  field  officer  of  the  day  with  his  escort 
came  in  sight  and  the  sentry  on  post  called  out,  "Turn  out 
the  guard — Grand  rounds!"  No  major  general  ever  more 
fully  realized  the  responsibility  of  his  position  than  did  the 
soldier  in  charge.  He  "turned  out  the  guard/'  and  with  a 
flourish  of  his  sabre  saluted  with  a  military  presence  that 
attracted  the  special  attention  of  the  officer  of  the  day,  who 
stopped  to  ask  his  command  and  rank.  "Oi'm  sanyur 
proivate,  sor,"  was  the  acting  corporal's  reply. 

Scouting  parties  were  frequently  sent  out  through  the 
country.  But  very  few  Confederates  were  seen.  Still  the 
picket  posts  were  kept  strong,  and  were  vigilant. 

The  1 5th,  General  Powell  held  a  review  of  his  division, 
and  in  a  brief  and  appropriate  speech  took  leave  of  his  corn- 
man.  He  was  universally  regarded  as  an  able  man,  a  com 
petent  general,  a  patriot  of  strong  convictions,  who  was  in 
the  service  from  a  sense  of  duty.  He  was  descended  from 
a  sturdy  ancestry,  the  Ironsides,  Welsh  Presbyterians,  who 
prayed,  sang  hymns,  and  fought  under  Cromwell.  He  had 
been  manager  of  extensive  iron  works.  He  gave  up  his 
business  and  raised  a  company  in  the  Second  Loyal  Vir 
ginia  cavalry.  He  was  rapidly  promoted;  major,  lieuten 
ant  colonel,  colonel,  brigadier  general,  and  was  brevetted 
major  general.  He  had  been  seriously  wounded  in  the 
breast  in  the  attack  and  repulse  at  Wytheville,  Va.,  July 


WINTER  CAMP:     RETROSPECTS  AND  PROSPECTS.    459 

1 8,  1863,  and  left  on  the  field,  and  taken  prisoner.  On  the 
charge  of  waging  war  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  war,  he 
was  confined  in  a  dungeon,  an  old  coal  hole  in  the  basement 
of  Libby  prison,  with  only  the  grating  above  for  light  and 
air,  and  no  mattress  to  rest  on,  in  the  heat  of  midsummer, 
to  die  of  his  wound  or  to  live,  as  might  happen.  After 
nearly  six  weeks  the  charges  were  withdrawn,  and  he  was 
transferred  to  the  regular  prison.  In  January,  '64,  he  was 
paroled  for  thirty  days  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  ex 
change  of  Col.  Richard  H.  Lee  of  the  Confederate  cav 
alry.  If  the  exchange  could  not  be  effected  he  was  to  re 
turn,  like  the  Roman  Regulus,  a  prisoner.  He  bore  to  the 
President  the  loyal  greetings  of  his  fellow  prisoners.  By 
the  special  instructions  of  Mr.  Lincoln  the  exchange  was 
made,  and  Powell  returned  to  his  command.  His  later 
career  was  well  known.  He  had  taken  part  in  thirty  battles 
and  thirty-nine  minor  engagements. 

After  his  term  of  service  he  became  largely  interested 
in  the  iron  business ;  was  urged  to  run  for  congress,  but  de 
clined  on  account  of  business  contracts.  He  was  a  presi 
dential  elector  from  West  Virginia  for  Grant  in  1868. 
Later  he  was  engaged  in  the  iron  business  at  Belleville,  111., 
where  he  still  (1902)  resides.  He  has  been  commander  of 
the  Department  of  111.,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  made  collector  of 
internal  revenue  by  President  McKinley,  his  comrade  in 
arms  and  warm  personal  friend. 

In  war  he  was  severe  yet  considerate.  He  was  al 
ways  approachable.  At  Front  Royal,  at  the  request  of  a 
Union  soldier,  he  gave  protection  papers  for  the  buildings 
on  the  Wheatley  farm  where  the  soldier  had  been  befriended. 
The  commanding  officer  of  one  of  his  regiments  had  sev 
eral  times  been  suddenly  taken  sick  when  there  was  a 
prospect  of  a  fight.  There  was  a  prospect  of  another  fight, 
and  the  officer,  in  front  of  his  regiment,  sent  a  messenger 


460  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

to  the  general  asking  to  be  excused,  as  he  was  again  feeling 
very  sick.  To  the  messenger  the  general  said,  "Tell  him 
that,  sick  or  no  sick,  he  has  got  to  go  into  this  fight." 

It  has  been  the  writer's  privilege  to  be  entertained  by 
General  Powell  and  his  family.  As  a  soldier  he  fought 
hard;  in  civil  life  he  was  the  plain,  honored,  genuine  Chris 
tian  gentleman. 

Major  Timothy  Quinn  resigned  January  4 — a  capable, 
prompt,  popular  officer.  He  had  always  been  successful, 
and  the  men  were  sorry  to  have  him  go.  Captain  Martin- 
dale  was  made  major  in  his  place. 

Captains  James  H.  Stevenson,  Abram  Jones  and  Lam 
bert  I.  Simons,  Major  Daniel  H.  Harkins  and  Surgeon 
Frederick  Elliott  had  all  been  mustered  out,  their  terms  of 
service  having  expired. 

Captain  Stevenson  had  served  five  years  in  the  regular 
cavalry  and  his  experience  was  valuable.  Before  he  became 
captain  he  had  served  most  of  the  time  as  adjutant,  and  on 
brigade  or  division  staff,  and  in  this  duty  he  was  efficient. 
As  captain  he  looked  well  to  the  interests  of  his  men.  After 
his  discharge  from  the  regiment  he  was  made  inspector 
general  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  W.  H.  Seward  at  Martinsburg. 
He  studied  law  and  became  a  real  estate  conveyancer  in 
Philadelphia,  and  was  successful.  During  leisure  intervals 
he  wrote  "Boots  and  Saddles",  a  record  of  his  experiences 
and  those  of  the  regiment.  Comrades  were  sure  of  a  hearty 
welcome  in  his  elegant  home. 

Captain  Jones  also  had  served  in  the  regular  army. 
He  was  thorough  in  his  knowledge  of  the  tactics  and  the 
regulations;  was  cool,  yet  quick  and  fearless  in  action;  un 
pretending,  yet  full  of  resources;  careful  of  his  men,  insist 
ing  on  discipline,  yet  considerate  and  just.  More  prisoners 
had  been  taken  by  detachments  under  his  command  than  by 
any  other  officer.  No  one  ever  heard  from  him  an  objec- 


WINTER  CAMP:     RETROSPECTS  AND  PROSPECTS.    461 

tionable  word,  or  heard  of  his  doing  an  objectionable  act. 
No  officer  stood  higher  in  the  estimation  of  the  men  of  the 
regiment  than  he.  His  leaving  was  felt  as  a  serious  loss. 
He  is  living,  a  useful  citizen,  at  Los  Angeles. 

Dr.  Elliott  had  done  hard  and  faithful  work  in  the  field 
and  in  the  hospital.  He  had  served  as  brigade  and  divis 
ion  medical  officer.  Many  a  poor  sick  or  wounded  man 
could  testify  to  Dr.  Elliott's  faithfulness.  He  did  not  spare 
himself  in  caring  for  others.  After  resigning  his  commis 
sion  he  was  still  retained  as  a  civilian  medical  director  in 
the  division  until  the  close  of  the  war  when  he  resumed  his 
practice  in  New  York. 

Major  Harkins  had  left  the  theatrical  profession  to  be 
come  a  soldier.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active  in  the  or 
ganization  of  the  regiment,  and  his  company  was  the  first 
to  be  mustered  in.  During  the  last  year  he  had  served 
most  of  the  time  on  staff  duty,  having  been  Hunter's  pro 
vost  marshal.  After  leaving  the  service  he  returned  to 
the  stage  and  had  a  successful  career. 

Captain  Simons  later  entered  the  navy  and  served  a 
number  of  years  with  credit. 

To  General  Powell  and  others  it  seemed  that  after  the 
re-election  of  Lincoln  and  the  recent  decisive  victories  that 
the  end  of  the  war  was  near.  Should  it  prove  otherwise 
they  would  re-enter  the  service. 

Some  of  the  officers  felt  that  they  had  good  reasons 
for  leaving  the  regiment.  There  had  been  some  elements  of 
discord  among  the  officers.  One  of  these  was  A.  W. 
Adams.  The  men  of  one  of  the  German  companies  had 
been  persuaded,  though  very  unwillingly,  to  accept  him  as 
a  lieutenant,  upon  his  assurance  that  he  would  not  be  with 
them  long.  He  merely  wanted  this  position  as  a  means  of 
getting  another,  and  the  inference  was  that  the  position  he 
sought  was  in  some  other  department.  But  when  the 


462  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

twelve  companies  were  organized  into  three  battalions,  to 
the  surprise  of  almost  every  one,  he  was  suggested  as  major 
of  the  Second  battalion,  over  captains  of  experience  and 
ability.  It  was  reported  that  he  had  done  some  political 
service  for  some  one  in  high  position.  It  was  evident  that 
he  had  some  of  the  elements  of  a  successful  politician.  His 
knowledge  of  military  matters  was  at  first  very  slight.  His 
inaccuracies  and  mistakes  had  made  him  an  object  of 
ridicule. 

And  now  he  was  colonel.  The  officers  who  had  hon 
estly  protested  against  his  successive  promotions,  and  who 
had  repeatedly  preferred  charges  against  him  for  general 
inefficiency  and  other  offenses,  which,  through  his  "in 
fluence"  had  come  to  nothing,  thinking  it  might  be  uncom 
fortable,  at  least  inconsistent,  to  serve  under  him,  chose  to 
leave  the  service  when  their  terms  expired,  or  seek  other 
positions. 

At  Nineveh  the  colonel  had  shown  that  he  was  not 
wanting  in  courage.  He  had  gradually  been  picking  up 
some  knowledge  of  military  matters.  Perhaps  the  situation 
would  not  be  altogether  intolerable.  Those  who  could  not 
get  him  out,  nor  get  out  themselves,  made  up  their  minds 
to  make  the  best  of  it.  It  looked  as  if  the  war  were  com 
ing  to  an  end  before  long,  and  they  would  do  their  part  in 
fighting  to  the  finish.  Some  new  lieutenants  were  made, 
who  had  won  their  way  from  privates. 

There  was  some  gayety  in  the  leisure  of  the  winter 
camp.  January  24,  Colonel  Capehart  gave  a  grand  ball  at 
brigade  headquarters.  There  were  less  pretentious  enter 
tainments  in  the  quarters  of  other  officers.  One  evening 
Lieut.  McReynolds  was  entertaining,  when  the  colonel 
walked  in,  like  Henry  VIII.  at  the  masked  ball  of  his  car 
dinal.  The  men  of  Co.  K  had  built  fine  quarters  for  Mc 
Reynolds.  The  colonel  complained  that  a  lieutenant  should 


WINTER  CAMP:     RETROSPECTS  AND  PROSPECTS.    463 

have  better  quarters  than  himself.  The  colonel  was  made 
to  feel  at  home  and  the  merriment  ran  high.  At  a  late 
hour  the  party  broke  up,  and  the  lieutenant  retired.  An 
hour  later  the  familiar  voice  of  one  of  the  guests  was  heard, 
"Frank,  Frank,  come  out  here  and  show  me  the  way  to  my 
own  tent."  For  an  hour  he  had  been  treading  in  a  circle 
around  the  quarters  of  his  host. 

February  I,  the  whole  cavalry  corps  was  reviewed  by 
Gen.  Sheridan.  It  was  a  large  and  imposing  review. 

Major  Battersby  was  now  made  lieutenant  colonel. 
Captain  Bailey  was  made  major  and  provost  marshal  of  the 
corps.  Though  detached,  he  was  always  ready  to  do  what 
he  could  for  any  worthy  man  in  the  regiment.  Savacool 
succeeded  Bailey  as  captain — two  well-earned  promotions. 

In  1876,  the  writer  was  wandering  through  the  grounds 
of  the  Centennial  Exposition  in  Philadelphia,  when  from 
an  inviting  booth  came  the  call,  "Lemonade  here!  Five 
cents  a  glass!"  The  voice  sounded  familiar.  The  wan 
derer  was  attracted  by  it,  and  turned  aside  to  hear  it  again.  It 
was  the  voice  of  a  bold  captain,  once  accustomed  to  be  heard 
in  the  roar  of  battle,  but  now  attuned  to  the  vocations  of 
peace.  There  was  a  pleasant  visit  with  the  genial  captain, 
during  which  he  related  his  experiences  in  several  enter 
prises  for  ministering  to  the  needs  of  his  fellow  men,  and 
now  was  running  this  "shebang"  and  apparently  with  great 
success. 

There  were  a  number  of  worthy  men  who  were  not 
to  take  part  in  the  final  campaign.  Some  of  these  had  en 
tered  the  service,  and  continued  in  it,  at  a  personal  sacri 
fice.  They  had  remained  until  the  end  was  in  sight.  Then 
they  had  felt  justified  in  retiring  to  follow  the  careers  which 
they  had  planned. 

Frederick  A.  Nims  had  served  as  A.  A.  O.  M.  and 
A.  A.  C.  S.  on  the  staff  of  Brig.  Gen.  I.  N.  Palmer,  from 


464  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

October,  '61,  to  July,  '62.  From  September,  '62 ,  to 
March,  '63,  he  had  been  A.  A.  A.  G.  to  Col.  McReynolds, 
commanding  cavalry  brigade;  from  March  to  July,  '63,  he 
was  A.  D.  C.  to  Brig.  Gen.  W.  L.  Elliott ;  from  September, 
'63,  to  Nov.,  '64,  he  was  A.  D.  C.  on  the  staff  of  Brig. 
Gen.  J.  C.  Sullivan.  He  was  a  man  of  scholarly  attain 
ments,  and  is  now  (1902)  a  successful  lawyer  of  Muskegon, 
Michigan,  interested  in  all  public  affairs,  and  losing  none  of 
his  interest  in  the  remiscences  of  the  regiment. 

Erwin  C.  Watkins  entered  the  service  as  a  corporal  in 
Co.  K.  He  distinguished  himself  at  Mechanicsville.  He 
led  the  advance  at  Capon  bridge,  and  at  Millwood  led  the 
night  attack  on  the  band  of  Confederates  that  had  captured 
the  stage  in  January,  '63 ;  he  was  for  six  months  chief  of 
scouts  in  the  Valley;  served  on  Hunter's  staff,  and  on  the 
staff  of  the  commander  of  the  cavalry  corps.  He  had  been 
active  in  all  the  campaigns,  and  in  half  a  hundred  fights. 
He  had  been  mustered  out  of  the  regiment  to  accept  an  ap 
pointment  as  A.  A.  G.  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Wm.  H.  Seward, 
commanding  at  Martinsburg.  Returning  to  civil  life,  he 
became  a  prominent  lawyer  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  still 
feeling  an  honest  pride  in  the  records  of  the  regiment  in 
which  he  served. 

Henry  M.  Nevius,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  when  nine 
teen  was  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Russell  A.  Alger.  In 
June,  '6 1,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  K.  After  suc 
cessive  promotions  he  was  made  regimental  Q.  M.  sergeant. 
He  was  active  in  all  the  campaigns  of  the  regiment  until 
the  last  day  of  1862,  when  he  was  discharged  to  become  a 
lieutenant  in  the  Seventh  Michigan  cavalry,  in  Custer's 
brigade.  A  year  later  he  was  called  home  to  New  Jersey 
by  the  governor,  to  be  commissioned  in  a  New  Jersey  regi 
ment.  The  conditions  were  such  that  he  would  not  accept, 
and  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  25th  New  York  cavalry. 


FREDERICK  A.   NIMS. 


ERWIN   C.  WATKINS. 


B.  F    MCREYNOLDS. 


HENRY M: 


WINTER  CAMP:     RETROSPECTS  AND  PROSPECTS.    465 

He  became  a  first  lieutenant  and  finally  major.  July  1 1,  '64, 
in  leading  a  charge  against  Early's  forces  outside  the  de 
fences  of  Washington,  he  lost  his  left  arm,  the  third  wound 
he  had  received.  He  was  a  gallant  cavalry  officer.  After 
the  war  he  became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  an  eloquent 
political  speaker.  He  was  a  state  senator,  and  was  presi 
dent  of  the  senate.  He  has  always  been  active  in  the  Loyal 
Legion  and  in  the  Grand  Army.  He  has  been  commander 
of  the  Department  of  New  Jersey  G.  A.  R.  Although  a 
resident  of  Monmouth  county,  he  was,  in  1896,  appointed 
judge  of  the  circuit  court  of  Hudson  county.  His  interest 
in  his  first  regiment  has  never  abated. 

The  genial  Lieutenant  Frank  McReynolds  was  obliged, 
on  account  of  physical  disability,  to  ask  for  his  discharge. 
He  had  served  as  commissary  of  the  regiment,  and  also  in 
the  commissary  department  of  the  brigade  and  of  the  div 
ision.  On  his  retirement  a  highly  commendatory  letter  was 
given  him  by  his  commanding  officer.  For  many  years  he 
has  held  the  responsible  position  of  secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Fire  and  Police  commissioners  of  Grand  Rapids. 

There  were  capable  men  in  the  ranks  who  enjoyed  do 
ing  their  duty  without  caring  for  promotion.  They  became 
well  known  throughout  the  ranks,  and  their  cheerful  serv 
ice  was  a  healthful  feature  of  camp  life.  They  were  never 
discouraged  or  depressed.  They  sang  in  the  camp;  they 
sang  on  the  march.  They  sang  and  shouted  as  they  went 
into  a  charge.  Their  singing  acted  as  a  tonic. 

A  lad  had  grown  up  singing  among  the  oyster  beds  of 
Long  Island  Sound.  And  day  after  day  in  the  first  camp 
in  Elm  Park,  Jerome  Bell,  a  hearty,  cheerful,  robust  man 
gifted  with  a  stentorian  voice,  was  called  upon  to  sing  "The 
Star  Spangled  Banner."  He  had  sung,  as  well  as  fought, 
his  way  through  his  term  of  service.  He  had  done  his 
comrades  good  by  his  singing.  He  was  missed  in  this  win- 


466  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ter  camp.  The  Confederate  authorities  had  interfered  with 
his  re-enlisting :  they  held  him  prisoner. 

October  16,  '63,  Captain  Leavitt  had  found  the  enemy 
in  force  near  Berryville.  That  afternoon  Lieut.  New  in 
vited  a  few  select  friends  to  ride  with  him  toward  Berry 
ville.  Lumphrey,  known  as  "Frenchy",  Dorman  and  Bell 
were  on  the  advance.  "Miss  Alice,"  a  Union  girl  visiting  a 
Union  family  this  side  of  the  town,  informed  them  there 
were  no  armed  rebels  in  Berryville.  There  had  not  been 
when  she  came  from  there,  but  they  had  come  in  immedi 
ately  after  she  left.  The  advance  went  on  and  after  dark, 
looking  through  the  window  of  a  house  where  they  hoped 
to  get  some  supper,  they  saw  four  Confederate  officers  eat 
ing  supper.  Their  appetites  left  them,  and  coining  out  of 
the  town  they  passed  the  night  in  a  down  pour  of  rain.  The 
next  clay  they  tried  to  learn  the  situation.  They  encount 
ered  the  enemy  in  small  force  and  skirmished  with  them 
until  every  horse  and  man  had  been  hit  by  bullets.  A  whole 
regiment  was  after  them.  Bell's  horse  went  down  in  a 
heap.  He  took  his  course  through  the  tall  grass  of  a 
meadow.  His  scabbard  became  entangled  among  his  legs 
and  threw  him.  Bullets  from  a  hundred  yards  fell  thick 
about  him.  He  reached  some  woods  beyond  the  meadow, 
where  he  sat  down  on  a  fallen  tree  to  rest,  reload  his  empty 
revolvers,  and,  as  he  hoped,  see  the  enemy  march  past,  when 
he  would  take  the  overland  route  for  Martinsburg.  But  a 
few  of  them  found  him  and  took  him  back  beyond  the  town. 
Here,  around  a  stump  that  served  as  a  guard  house,  he  met 
his  comrades,  Stuart  and  Fred  McNeil.  Here  also  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  General  Imboden,  Mosby,  White  and 
the  Captain  McNeil  who  always  carried  a  double-barreled 
rifle,  and  who  captured  Captain  Battersby  beyond  Romney, 
in  October,  '62. 

Imboden  questioned  Bell  about  the  forces  at  Martins- 


WINTER  CAMP  :     RETROSPECTS  AND  PROSPECTS.    467 

burg  and  Charlestown.  There  was  a  division  at  the  former 
place,  artillery,  infantry  and  cavalry,  while  at  Charlestown 
there  were  only  a  few  hundred.  Bell  informed  his  ques 
tioner  that  the  reverse  was  the  case — a  large  force  at 
Charlestown,  and  a  small  one  at  Martinsburg,  and  impressed 
him  with  the  appearance  of  a  nervous  apprehension  lest  he 
should  attack  Martinsburg,  where  Bell  knew  he  would  be 
sure  of  a  warm  reception.  Finally  Imboden  asked  him  to 
what  regiment  he  belonged.  "To  the  First  New  York  cav 
alry."  ''Then  I  am  not  surprised  that  you  are  such  an  in 
fernal  liar,  if  you  belong  to  that  regiment/' 

The  prisoners  watched  Imboden' s  command  as  it 
marched  toward  Charlestown,  wishing  that  they  might  in 
some  magical  way  give  the  Union  forces  there  notice  of 
what  was  coming.  Bell  tried  to  slip  away  from  his  guard, 
and  thought  he  had  almost  succeeded,  but  he  was  caught  and 
brought  back  to  the  stump.  The  prisoners  heard  the  firing 
at  Charlestown.  They  saw  Imboden's  command  come  back 
with  their  few  hundred  prisoners,  the  men  elated  with  their 
success,  but  hastening  along  the  way,  evidently  fearing  pur 
suit.  Winans  was  added  to  their  number.  They  took  up 
their  weary  way  through  the  Luray  valley  southward.  In 
passing  through  Harrisonburg  the  victors  were  heartily 
cheered.  The  women  were  especially  enthusiastic.  They 
cheered,  and  sang,  and  shouted  themselves  hoarse,  waving 
flags,  handkerchiefs  or  anything  within  reach.  To  offset 
this  demonstration,  Bell,  with  mighty  voice  struck  up, 
"We'll  Rally  round  the  Flag,  Boys,"  laying  particular  em 
phasis  on  the  chorus,  when  Captain  Imboden,  a  brother  of 
the  general,  who,  up  to  that  time  had  been  doffing  his  cap 
to  the  ladies,  right  and  left,  broadly  smiling  his  acknowl 
edgements  of  their  enthusiastic  cheers,  rode  up  and  clipped 
Bell  over  the  head  with  his  sabre — he  has  the  scar  to  this 
day — and  told  him  to  "stop  that  d — d  singing."  He  seemed 


468  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

to  be  mad  about  something.  The  singer  did  stop  for  a 
little  while,  and  then  struck  up  again.  The  guards  enjoyed 
hearing  him  sing,  and  they  let  him  sing.  A  Lieut.  Silver- 
ton  kindly  gave  some  extra  hard  tack  and  other  things  to 
eat,  to  this  squad  of  prisoners.  While  they  were  passing 
through  the  streets  of  Richmond  some  of  the  "Home 
guards"  that  lined  the  streets  expressed  sympathy  for  them; 
others  reviled  them.  Some  kind  friends  handed  each  a 
small  loaf  of  bread,  so  long  as  the  loaves  lasted.  The  most 
of  them  could  have  enjoyed  several  loaves.  One  of  the 
guard,  a  tall,  lanky  fellow,  came  to  Bell  and  asked  him  to 
sing  "that  Bar  Stangled  Spanner  song"  that  he  had  sung 
while  on  the  way  up  the  Valley.  In  reply  to  an  expression 
of  fear  that  the  "Home  guard"  would  not  like  it,  he  assured 
the  prisoner  that  the  guards  would  take  care  of  the  "Home 
guard."  Bell  struck  up  the  national  anthem,  and  singing  it 
the  captives  passed  through  the  doors  of  Pemberton  prison. 

After  awhile  the  prisoners  were  taken  to  Belle  Isle. 
Here  on  the  first  of  January  were  15,000  men  with  insuffi 
cient  shelter,  clothing  and  food.  Three  times  that  winter 
did  the  James  river  freeze  over.  In  sight  of  these  suffering 
prisoners  was  the  stately  mansion  of  Jefferson  Davis. 
Tempting  offers  were  made  to  these  half-starved  men  to  in 
duce  them  to  go  over  to  Richmond  and  work  at  their  trades, 
if  they  had  any.  The  offers  were  refused. 

On  this  island  were  old  and  leaking  tents  for  3,000  of 
the  15,000  prisoners.  The  rest  had  no  shelter.  In  one 
tent  were  several  Tennessee  men,  taken  at  Chickamauga, 
good,  whole-souled  fellows.  Bell  was  in  with  them.  One 
of  their  number,  named  Green,  had  a  chance  to  help  cook 
for  the  prisoners.  He  would  come  inside  the  gate  at  times, 
bringing  some  rye  coffee  and  some  very  fat  meat  for  these 
men.  They  would  start  Bell  to  singing,  and  he  would  come 
in  for  a  share.  He  sang,  not  for  the  extra  rations,  but  the 


WINTER  CAMP:     RETROSPECTS  AND  PROSPECTS.   469 

extra  rations  helped  him  out,  and  his  singing  helped  the 
other  prisoners. 

In  time  500  were  to  be  paroled  and  exchanged.  Once 
on  board  the  exchange  steamer,  there  was  the  call  "Fall  in 
for  rations,"  and  what  rations !  Great  loaves  of  soft  white 
bread,  slabs  of  boiled  ham,  and  Lincoln  coffee!  On  their 
way  north  they  saw  Confederate  prisoners  in  comfortable 
barracks,  well  cared  for,  expending  their  surplus  energy  in 
playing  ball,  while  350  of  their  own  number,  on  reaching 
Annapolis  were  so  debilitated  that  they  were  sent  to  the 
hospital. 

Bell  returned  to  the  regiment  in  time  to  go  with  Hunter 
on  his  expedition  to  Lynchburg,  and  on  the  retreat  across 
the  mountains  and  back  to  the  Valley — "a  march  of  some 
thing  like  220,000  miles,  more  or  less,"  and  living  for  sev 
eral  days  on  parched  corn  was  a  life  in  Paradise  compared 
with  that  in  rebel  prisons. 

Bell  returned  to  his  home  at  City  Island,  greatly  re 
spected  by  his  neighbors  who  repeatedly  chose  him  to  local 
offices  of  responsibility  and  trust.  He  was  active  in  bring 
ing  about  the  first  reunion.  Some  of  these  men,  meeting 
for  the  first  time  in  years,  as  they  grasped  each  other  by  the 
hand  and  looked  in  each  other's  faces,  were  scarcely  able  to 
speak  as  their  comradeship  in  prison  and  in  the  field  came 
back  to  them. 

A  small  force  went  out  from  Martinsburg  to  Smith- 
field,  in  '63.  Captain  Blackford  of  this  place  had  raised  a 
company  in  the  vicinity,  and  he  and  his  men  had  been  riding 
around  the  neighborhood  hoping  to  pick  up  some  wandering 
Federals.  A  collision  occurred,  followed  by  a  wild  and  furi 
ous  chase.  Blackford's  men  scattered  along  the  forking 
roads  and  through  the  fields  and  woods.  By  two's  and 
three's  the  pursuers  followed  them.  Captain  Jones  got 
ahead  of  his  men,  and  encountered  two  of  the  enemy,  who 


470  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

shot  him  in  one  of  his  fingers,  and  then  surrounded  him, 
taking  him  prisoner.     Bell  and  Thompson  of  Co.  H  saw  all 
this  from  a  distance,  and  rode  to  the  captain's  rescue.     His 
captors  were  routed.     Then  the  captain  and  Bell  rode  after 
Blackford.     In  his  headlong  flight  through  a  rock-cut  in 
the  road  the  Confederate's  horse  stumbled  and  fell.     His 
rider  went  over  the  horse's  head  with  such  momentum  that 
he  slid  a  long  distance  on  his  face  in  the  stony,  down-hill 
road.     His  captors  remounted  him  and  brought  him  to  his 
own  home  in   Smithfield.     It  was  with  squalid  hair  and 
beard,  a  bruised  and  torn,  dirt-besmeared  and  gory  front, 
that  he  was  presented  to  his  horrified  wife  and  three  grown 
up  daughters.     He  looked  as  if  he  might  have  been  dragged 
on    the   ground    from    the    place    of    his    capture.     "How 
changed  was  he  from  that  Hector"  who  a  little  while  before 
had  gone  out  from  that  same  home  in  his  bright,  gold-laced 
uniform,  expecting  to  return  loaded  with  the  spoils  of  his 
enemies.     It  was  a  furious  tirade  that  the  ladies  gave  the 
two  Union  soldiers.     But  the  Confederate  was  not  so  badly 
hurt  as  he  looked,  and  after  a  cleaning  up  he  and  they  felt 
better.     Captain  Jones  talked  to  them  in  a  friendly  way.    It 
was  all  the  fault  of  the  stumbling  horse.     He  had  himself, 
a  little  while  ago,  been  a  prisoner.     He  showed  them  his 
bleeding  finger.     He   and   the   other   captain   had   merely 
changed  places.     Such  was  the  chance  of  war,  and  Black- 
ford  moved  on    with    his   captors    to    serve   his   time  in  a 
"Northern  bastile." 

In  the  Berry ville  fight  of  October  16,  was  William 
Winans.  His  own  horse  was  disabled,  and  he  was  that  day 
riding  Skerry's  well-known,  trim,  brown  horse.  While 
others  fell  by  the  way  in  the  hot  pursuit,  this 
horse,  that  was  a  darling  for  a  long  run,  carried 
his  rider  through  to  Charlestown.  But  while  Im- 
boden  was  fighting  at  Charlestown,  Winans  took  his 


WINTER  CAMP:     RETROSPECTS  AND  PROSPECTS.   471 

chances  in  an  attempt  to  escape  on  his  own  horse.  But  he 
was  intercepted  and  his  horse  killed  under  him.  He  was 
taken  to  Belle  Isle.  He  was  slight  built  and  not  strong. 
His  sufferings  during  that  cold  winter,  with  scant  shelter 
and  scant  rations,  were  beyond  description.  But  he  sur 
vived  to  rejoin  his  command  in  '64.  July  25,  at  Martinsburg, 
a  piece  of  the  brass  fuse  cap  of  the  shell  that  exploded  in  the 
ranks  of  his  company  entered  the  point  of  his  shoulder, 
passed  eight  inches  along  the  shoulder  blade,  and  was  im 
bedded  among  the  muscles.  His  arm  hung  helpless.  He 
went  to  a  hill  in  the  rear  where  the  surgeons  were  busy 
with  wounded  men.  His  arm  was  looked  at,  and  a  surgeon 
told  him  to  go  to  the  hospital  in  the  town.  He  replied,  "The 
rebels  will  be  in  town  in  an  hour.  I  have  been  a  prisoner 
once,  and  I  don't  want  to  be  again."  "How  dare  you  dis 
obey  me?  Go  to  the  hospital  at  once!"  He  started  in  that 
direction,  but  when  out  of  sight  he  struck  for  the  Williams- 
port  road.  Weak  and  faint  from  the  loss  of  blood,  he  kept 
on  his  way  until  he  was  overtaken  by  a  retreating  battery. 
Some  of  the  men  had  been  killed,  and  he  was  allowed  to 
ride  in  one  of  the  vacant  places.  At  dark  his  own  regiment 
overtook  him.  When  his  own  company  came  up  he  asked 
Captain  Battersby  if  he  could  get  a  horse  for  him  to  ride. 
The  captain  kindly  took  pains  to  get  one  from  another  com 
pany,  but  it  had  no  saddle  or  bridle.  His  comrades  lifted 
him  on  and  led  his  horse.  As  he  afterwards  said,  "This 
was  my  last  ride  with  the  old  regiment."  After  lying  all 
night  on  a  kitchen  floor,  without  food,  and  faint  from  bleed 
ing,  he  next  day  rode  on  the  seat  with  the  driver  of  an 
ambulance,  and  finally,  after  fourteen  days  of  traveling  and 
suffering,  the  poisonous  fragment  of  the  shell  was  taken 
from  his  shoulder.  For  the  rest  of  his  life  he  was  a  sufferer, 
but  he  bore  up  with  the  spirit  of  a  hero. 

An  officer  had  occasion  to  go  to  Baltimore.  At  the 
station  at  Frederick  was  a  poor  fellow  so  emaciated  and 
weak  that  he  could  not  stand.  He  could  scarcely  speak 


472  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

above  a  whisper.  How  he  had  succeeded  in  getting  from 
the  hospital  to  the  station  no  one  could  tell.  Some  com 
rades  must  have  helped  him  there  and  then  disappeared. 
The  man  had  no  furlough.  To  go  away  without  one  was 
desertion.  He  asked  to  be  helped  into  the  car.  "Where  do 
you  want  to  go?"  In  a  voice  that  could  scarcely  be  heard 
he  replied:  "I — want — to — go — home."  "Where  is  your 
home?"  "In  Con-nect-icut,  and — I — want — to — go — there." 
He  was  carefully  lifted  into  the  car,  and  a  place  was  made 
for  him  to  lie  down,  for  he  was  too  weak  to  sit  up.  The 
conductor  did  not  ask  for  his  fare,  and  no  armed  guard 
asked  to  see  his  pass  or  his  furlough. 

At  Baltimore  members  of  some  relief  committee  were 
at  hand  with  an  easy  carriage,  and  strong  men  and  gentle 
women  tenderly  cared  for  the  helpless  man.  Relays  of  such 
relief  committees  helped  him  on  his  way  to  his  home  where 
those  of  his  own  family  might  nurse  him  back  to  life  and 
health,  or  might  watch  over  him  as  his  life  passed  away.  If 
he  must  die,  he  wanted  to  die  in  the  midst  of  his  family. 

There  were  cases  of  homesickness  that  could  not  be 
told.  Heroism  in  action  was  honored.  There  was  heroism 
in  suffering  that  was  equally  heroic,  but  unrecorded. 

Peter  Bockoven,  of  Canoga,  N.  Y.,  was  mustered  in 
with  Co.  B.  After  some  weeks  of  service  he  was  taken 
seriously  ill  with  a  fever.  There  was  no  hospital  and  he 
was  cared  for  in  the  home  of  a  friend.  The  regiment  moved 
on.  After  a  long  convalescence  he  went  to  his  home  and 
waited  long  to  recover  his  full  health.  In  a  fit  of  impa 
tience  the  orderly  sergeant  reported  him  a  deserter.  When 
he  had  become  strong,  as  he  thought,  anxious  to  do  the  best 
service  he  could,  and  not  caring  to  take  time  to  correct  the 
record  that  had  been  made,  he  joined  the  8th  New  York 
cavalry,  an  excellent  regiment  that  was  being  raised  at  his 
home.  Here  he  served  until  his  health  again  failed,  and  he 
died  in  hospital,  a  soldier  of  unimpeachable  honor,  but  un 
fortunate  in  his  record. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 
TO  GRANT'S  ARMY. 

OLONEL  ADAMS  was  on  leave  of  absence  on  ac- 
V —  count  of  a  lame  foot,  the  result  of  a  fall  of  his  horse, 
and  Lieut.  Col.  Battersby  was  in  command.  At  Custer's 
request,  the  regiment  had  been  transferred  to  the  Third 
brigade  of  the  Third  division,  Custer's.  A  detachment 
under  Major  Martindale,  with  some  other  forces,  was  to  be 
left  at  Winchester,  to  keep  watch  in  the  Valley. 

The  First  division  under  Merritt  and  the  Third  under 
Custer,  with  Capehart's  brigade  of  the  Second,  10,000  in 
all,  started  at  daylight  of  February  27.  It  was  a  wet,  cold 
day.  Reached  Woodstock,  30  miles.  The  next  day  the 
army  marched  to  Lacy's  Springs,  six  miles  from  Harrison- 
burg,  another  30  miles.  The  next  day  at  Mt.  Crawford, 
Rosser  was  waiting  with  several  hundred  men,  entrenched, 
and  prepared  to  dispute  the  crossing  of  the  Middle  river. 
Custer  kept  the  attention  of  the  enemy  by  keeping  up  an 
action  in  front,  while  he  directed  the  First  New  York  to 
make  a  circuit  far  enough  to  the  rear  to  be  out  of  sight  of 
the  enemy,  to  cross  the  river  far  enough  above  the  bridge  to 
answer  the  purpose,  and  then  to  fall  upon  the  enemy's  flank 
and  rear.  The  men  had  to  swim  the  river.  After  some 
delay  and  considerable  discomfort,  pouring  water  out  of 
boots  and  wringing  out  their  stockings,  they  were  ready. 

A  lot  of  active   men    were    Major    Young's  corps  of 


473 


474  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

scouts.  Among  them  were  a  number  of  men  from  different 
companies  of  the  regiment.  Among  them  was  Valentine 
who  delighted  in  riding  a  free  horse  and  wielding  a  free 
lance.  He  did  not  have  to  wait  for  the  regiment.  As  he 
rode  past  it  he  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  call  out, 
"Well,  colonel,  General  McClellan  isn't  making  as  good 
time  to-day  as  he  made  in  the  races  at  Berryville,  is  he?"  A 
bullet  struck  his  scabbard,  and  in  some  mysterious  way  fol 
lowed  around  the  calf  of  his  leg,  without  doing  any  particu 
lar  injury  but  leaving  its  mark. 

The  regiment  with  drawn  sabres  and  loud  shouts,  and 
supported  by  the  First  West  Virginia,  bore  down  on  the 
enemy's  flank.  The  enemy  \vere  unprepared  to  withstand 
this  charge,  and  broke  and  fled  in  confusion.  They  were 
pursued  several  miles,  losing  their  wagons  and  many 
prisoners. 

March  2,  it  began  to  rain  at  daylight,  and  it  rained 
lightly  all  day.  Passed  through  Staunton  and  out  toward 
Waynesborough,  twelve  miles  southeast  of  Staunton,  on  the 
road  to  Rockfish  Gap  over  the  Blue  Ridge.  Here  \vas  Early 
with  his  last  2,500  men,  entrenched,  proposing  to  make  good 
his  boast  that  Sheridan's  10,000  should  never  pass  through 
that  gap.  Custer  maneuvred  awhile  till  he  had  his  men  in 
the  proper  positions,  when  different  forces  were  to  break 
upon  the  enemy  from  different  directions,  the  First  and 
Eighth  New  York  in  front,  others  on  the  flanks,  and  the 
rest  a  little  in  the  rear  to  follow  closely  as  supports.  Those 
in  front  did  not  wait  for  their  supports,  but  with  loud  cheers 
burst  with  an  irresistible  momentum,  riding  over  the  en 
trenchments  and  among  the  routed  enemy.  The  attacking 
regiments  and  Capehart's  brigade  joined  in  the  wild  pur 
suit  until  the  spoils  of  the  battle  were  1,600  prisoners,  n 
guns,  17  battle  flags,  and  200  loaded  wagons.  Custer  lost 
less  than  a  dozen  men.  It  was  an  overwhelming  route. 


To  GRANT'S  ARMY.  475 

In  the  pursuit  it  was  every  man  for  himself — and  what  he 
could  get.  Valentine  overhauled  Early's  quartermaster  who 
had  on  his  person  $10,000  in  Confederate  money. 

Sheridan  continued  his  policy  of  not  resting  after  a 
victory.  All  night  in  the  rain  he  pushed  on  through  the 
gap,  and  at  two  o'clock  the  next  afternoon  he  was  in  Char- 
lottesville.  The  civil  authorities  of  the  place  formally  sur 
rendered  it  to  the  conquering  general.  The  few  hundred  of 
Early 's  men  that  had  succeeded  in  evading  capture  were 
scattered  among  the  mountains,  the  most  of  them  going  to 
their  homes.  They  were  never  again  met  as  an  organized 
body. 

The  rebel  war  clerk  writes:  "It  is  rumored  that  Gen 
eral  Early  has  been  beaten  again  at  Waynesboro.  We  must 
have  a  victory  soon,  else  Virginia  is  irretrievably  lost.  Gen 
eral  Early's  army  is  scattered  to  the  winds.  It  is  reported 
that  General  Lee's  family  is  preparing  to  leave  the  city. 
Reported  that  General  Early,  when  last  seen,  was  flying,  and 
pursued  by  some  fifteen  well-mounted  Federals,  only  fifty 
paces  in  his  rear. — " 

A  little  incident  related  by  Fiala  of  Co.  E — "When  the 
charge  was  made  and  the  battle  at  Waynesboro  was  going 
on,  Co.  E  was  guard  at  headquarters.  Lieutenant  Kneif 
brought  a  dispatch  and  said  to  me :  'Fiala,  as  your  horse  is 
the  best  in  the  company,  you  must  take  this  dispatch  to 
Major  Bailey,  provost  marshal  of  the  corps.'  I  thought  this 
was  the  last  of  me,  as  I  knew  the  roads  were  very  bad  and 
full  of  runaway  rebels.  But  they  must  have  been  as  bad  off 
as  I  was,  for  I  did  not  get  into  any  trouble — only  once  in 
awhile  a  suspicious  glance.  I  had  to  pass  between  two  farm 
houses.  I  did  not  see  any  men,  but  some  women  stood  out 
side  and  looked  as  if  they  would  like  to  question  me.  I  took 
no  notice  and  went  on. 

When  I  delivered  my  dispatch  the  major,  after  reading 


476  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

it,  placed  it  in  the  envelope  again,  and  said:  'I  have  no 
orderly  to  spare.  You  may  as  well  take  it  to  the  colonel 
of  the  so-called  First  New  York  Veterans.'  I  found  them 
about  half  a  mile  from  Waynesboro,  encamped  on  a  hill. 
While  I  was  seeking  the  colonel  one  of  the  officers  wanted 
to  take  it;  but  the  colonel  coming  up  said:  'I  want  you  to 
dismount  when  you  bring  a  dispatch  to  me.'  I  dismounted, 
made  a  salute,  gave  him  the  dispatch,  remounted,  and  left, 
thinking  he  wras  rather  particular  about  regulations  such  bad 
weather.  I  believe  the  dispatch  was  an  order  for  him  and 
his  regiment  to  take  the  prisoners  back  to  Winchester." 

This  colonel  had  been  observed  when  riding  into  a 
town,  to  take  out  a  pocket  mirror,  and  looking  in  it,  care 
fully  adjust  his  moustache  and  pendent  whiskers.  At  one 
time  he  questioned  the  regularity  of  the  way  in  which  an 
order  from  General  Sheridan  came  to  him.  This  being  re 
ported  to  Sheridan,  he  lost  no  time  in  sending  another  order 
"in  the  regular  way,"  relieving  the  colonel  from  his 
command. 

At  Charlottesville  General  Sheridan  asked  Major 
Young  of  the  scouts  to  have  four  of  them  report  for  special 
service.  They  were  provided  with  good  horses  and,  dressed 
in  gray,  set  out  with  dispatches  for  Winchester.  They  set 
out  before  daylight  and  rode  rapidly,  avoiding  the  main 
roads  and  larger  towns.  But  on  the  way  they  met  two  of 
Gilmore's  men  who  had  been  prisoners  at  Winchester.  These 
recognized  Dunn,  one  of  the  four.  It  was  debated  among 
the  four  whether  it  would  be  better  to  let  them  go,  or  take 
them  prisoners,  and  tie  them  up  in  the  woods,  trusting  that 
some  one  would  in  time  release  them  when  the  scouts  were 
well  out  of  the  way.  They  were  allowed  to  go.  But  while 
taking  their  next  breakfast  at  a  house  near  Rude's  Hill,  the 
house  was  surrounded  by  twenty  or  more — Gilmore's  men 
and  citizens.  The  two  whom  they  had  met  and  allowed  to 


To  GRANT'S  ARMY.  477 

pass  had  managed  this  capture.  The  scouts  were  taken  to 
Staunton  and  placed  in  the  jail  yard,  their  good  suits  taken 
and  old  clothing  given  them.  Here  were  about  two  hun 
dred  of  Sheridan's  men  who  had  fallen  behind  and  had  been 
picked  up.  Luckily  some  of  Wilson's  cavalry  were  raiding 
in  the  vicinity.  In  the  confusion  in  the  night  the  scouts 
escaped.  In  leaving  they  saw  what  led  them  to  suspect  that 
preparations  had  been  made  for  hanging  them  as  spies. 
They  made  good  time  the  rest  of  that  night.  In  the  morn 
ing  they  saw  four  horses  saddled  and  tied  to  a  fence  near 
a  house.  They  cautiously  drew  near,  untied  the  horses, 
mounted  and  were  off.  They  were  cavalrymen's  horses, 
with  pistols  in  holsters.  At  Rude's  Hill  the  men  saw  that 
they  were  followed  by  a  squad  of  horsemen.  The  bridge 
east  of  the  Meem  bottom  was  gone.  The  river  was  swollen 
and  swift,  but  they  had  to  swim  it.  Stern's  horse  was  car 
ried  down  stream  and  drowned,  but  his  comrades  helped 
Stern  over.  They  reached  Winchester  safely. 

After  a  rest  they  were  given  new  suits  and  fresh  horses 
and  started  out  again.  With  many  fast  rides  and  narrow 
escapes  they,  in  their  trip  of  150  miles,  overtook  Sheridan 
in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond. 

At  Charlottesville  some  of  the  men,  who  were  practical 
printers,  took  possession  of  a  printing  office  and  issued  a 
special  edition,  advertising,  with  the  old-time  cuts  of  runa 
way  slaves,  offering  large  rewards  for  the  finding  and  return 
of  "My  boy  Jube,"  and  "My  man  Rosser." 

Captain  O'Brien,  provost  marshal  of  the  division,  cap 
tured  among  other  things,  a  lot  of  correspondence  among 
Confederate  officers  of  high  rank.  These  letters  indicated 
anything  but  harmony  among  the  writers.  They  contained 
spicy  accusations  of  inefficiency. 

The  prisoners  had  been  sent  back  under  guard  to  Win 
chester.  Now  Sheridan's  hands  were  free  for  new  work 


4?78  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

that  he  had  to  do — break  lines  of  communication,  tear  up 
railroads,  and  destroy  whatever  property  might  be  service 
able  to  the  enemy. 

Charlottesville  was  the  home  of  Jefferson,  and  the  seat 
of  the  University  of  Virginia.  Here  the  soldiers  of  Bur- 
goyne's  army,  surrendered  at  Saratoga,  were  kept  as  pris 
oners.  When  in  1/81,  Tarleton  raided  this  part  of  the  state, 
Jefferson  and  members  of  the  legislature  barely  escaped 
capture.  In  anticipation  of  such  a  raid  from  Cornwallis' 
army  the  prisoners  had  been  removed,  some  to'  Winchester 
and  some  of  Frederick,  Md. 

After  waiting  at  Charlottesville  two  days,  Sheridan 
divided  his  command  and  went  to  destroying  whatever 
would  be  of  service  to  the  Confederate  government  and 
army.  He  let  Lynchburg  alone,  and  made  for  other  points. 
One  column  moved  to  Scottsville  on  the  James  river;  an 
other  to  New  Market  on  the  same  river.  One  moved  along 
the  river  and  canal  to  Duguidsville,  hoping  there  to  cross 
the  James.  The  Confederates  had  burned  the  bridge.  They 
followed  along  the  canal,  breaking  embankments,  destroy 
ing  locks  and  bridges,  to  Columbia  and  Goochland.  Fac 
tories  and  mills  that  could  make  anything  to  help  the  army 
were  destroyed. 

Then  striking  toward  the  northeast  Sheridan  crossed 
the  Pamunkey  at  the  White  House,  with  occasional  rests  and 
by  leisurely  marches,  as  if  he  felt  at  home  in  the  country 
and  had  no  fears ;  he  passed  over  the  ground  on  which  Mc- 
Clellan  conducted  his  Peninsula  campaign,  crossed  the 
James  and  the  Appomattox,  and  on  the  26th  of  March  was 
resting  beside  the  army  that  was  besieging  the  last  strong 
hold  of  the  Confederacy. 


CHARLES   KAYSER. 


NAPOLEON  VALENTINE. 


WILLIAM   H.  BEACH. 


ANTHONY.  <?JAU-;  ;    V  , 


CHAPTER  XLV. 
THE  LAST  RAID  UP  THE  VALLEY. 

^  I  ^HE  cavalry  that  had  been  left  about  Winchester  did 
not  rest  in  absolute  quiet  and  security  while  Sheridan 
was  riding  across  the  country  to  Grant.  Scouts  were  out 
continually  to  learn  the  news.  It  was  "bad  weather  under 
foot."  There  were  scouts  in  hot  haste,  all  hands.  New 
horses  that  showed  a  disinclination  to  be  mounted,  and  others 
whose  condition  suggested  the  expression,  "Go  it,  ye  crip 
ples  !",  all  had  to  do  their  part. 

The  first  of  April,  two  days  before  Richmond  was  evac 
uated,  there  was  a  midnight  call  for  every  man  having  a 
serviceable  horse  to  "saddle  up."  There  were  about  two 
hundred  of  the  regiment  here  at  the  time,  those  who  had 
stayed  with  Martindale,  a  few  who  had  come  back  from 
Waynesborough  with  Early's  men  as  prisoners,  and  some 
who  had  come  up  from  Remount  Camp.  Details  from 
these  and  from  parts  of  other  regiments  numbered  three  hun 
dred.  It  was  the  morning  of  the  2nd  when  they  started 
up  the  familiar  pike.  They  forded  Cedar  creek,  that  was 
up  to  their  saddles.  At  Strasburg  they  halted  to  rest  and 
feed.  To  "rest"  meant  to  unsaddle,  rub  down  the  horses 
thoroughly,  and  after  feeding,  saddle  them  again.  Late  in 
the  afternoon  they  reached  Woodstock  and  bivouacked  in 
some  woods  by  the  side  of  the  pike  and  near  Pugh's  creek, 
a  small  stream  over  beyond  a  hill.  Rails  were  getting 


479 


4-80  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

scarce  in  this  part  of  the  enemy's  country.  Pickets  were 
posted.  A  scouting  party  was  sent  into  town,  two  miles 
beyond.  Horses  were  unsaddled,  groomed,  and  saddled 
again.  They  were  to  remain  saddled  and  the  men  were  to 
rest  with  their  arms  at  hand  all  night. 

Two  hours  before  daylight  there  was  an  alarm.  A 
number  of  shots  were  fired  in  quick  succession.  Men 
sprang  to  their  horses.  Captain  Daber  of  the  German  bat 
talion  called  out,  "Fall  in  mit  your  carbines!"  How  the 
Confederates  got  inside  the  line  of  pickets,  who  were  sup 
posed  to  be  within  hailing  distance  of  each  other,  without 
being  challenged,  was  not  known.  Knowing  all  the  coun 
try  they  found  some  way  to  slip  in.  But  apparently  they 
went  away,  and  all  was  quiet.  Some  of  the  men  thought  it 
must  have  been  a  false  alarm,  and  there  had  not  been  any 
Confederates  there  at  all,  and  went  to  sleep  again. 

But  at  daybreak  they  were  there,  in  reality,  right  in  the 
camp,  firing  right  and  left,  and  calling  upon  the  suddenly 
awakened  men  to  surrender.  The  most  of  Daber's  men  got 
away — to  come  back  a  little  later. 

Le  Moyne  Burleigh  had  gone  with  Sheridan  as  far  as 
Waynesborough  when,  on  account  of  the  condition  of  his 
horse,  he  had  returned  to  Winchester.  Now  he  was  on  this 
last  raid.  .  He  was  not  one  of  the  first  to  awake  on  the  morn 
ing  of  this  attack.  When  he  reached  his  horse  and  was 
untying  him,  he  was  seized  from  behind,  struck  on  the  head 
with  a  revolver,  and  told  to  "surrender!"  The  man  who 
made  the  demand  was  in  gray.  Our  scouts  were  generally 
in  gray.  Not  wishing  to  have  any  serious  mistake  made, 
Burleigh  asked,  "Who  are  you?"  "I'm  a  rebel,"  was  the 
unexpected  reply.  Burleigh's  impulse  was  to  fight,  but  on 
looking  around  he  saw  there  were  too  many  at  hand,  and 
one  of  these  had  snapped  his  revolver  at  him,  it  missing  fire, 
and  now  was  aiming  another  at  his  head  with  the  chance 


THE  LAST  RAID  UP  THE  VALLEY.  481 

that  this  might  go  off.  He  surrendered,  was  disarmed  and 
hurried  to  the  rear.  Here  under  guard  was  Welch  of  the 
same  regiment.  A  sergeant  major  armed  with  a  sabre  and 
three  revolvers,  one  in  his  belt  and  two  in  his  boots,  marched 
the  two  prisoners  away.  They  had  heard  the  Union  bugle 
sound  the  "rally",  and  were  looking  for  the  cavalry  to  make 
a  charge  upon  their  captors.  The  charge  was  made  as  ex 
pected,  and  the  Confederates  were  routed.  But  the  pris 
oners  were  hurried  by  their  guards  through  some  woods, 
across  a  field,  over  a  brook,  through  a  torn-down  fence  and 
across  another  field.  Here  the  horses  of  some  of  the  enemy 
had  been  tied.  The  two  prisoners  were  mounted  on  one  horse 
and  taken  across  the  country  to  the  pike,  and  then  toward 
the  south. 

Burleigh  asked  his  guard  "who  they  all  were."  "Oh, 
we're  rebels."  "I  supposed  that.  Do  you  belong  to  Ros- 
ser?"  "No;  we're  Imboden's  men,"  rather  reluctantly. 
"What  regiment?"  "Twenty-third  rifles." 

O'Farrel,  now  a  lieutenant  colonel,  was  in  command  of 
the  larger  body  which  they  soon  joined.  He  directed  the 
two  prisoners  to  ride  "alongside",  and  asked  many  questions 
about  the  forces  at  Winchester  and  elsewhere.  They  were 
too  sharp,  with  all  their  apparent  frankness,  to  give  answers 
of  any  value.  The  whole  party  were  nervously  watching  to 
see  if  the  Union  cavalry  were  following  them.  A  Major 
Calamy  asked  for  their  greenbacks.  They  had  none.  He 
asked  after  some  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment.  He  seemed 
to  know  something  about  Col.  Adams  and  Lieut.  Col.  Bat- 
tersby,  and  Major  Young  of  the  scouts,  and  expressed  a 
favorable  opinion  of  all  of  them.  The  captors  traded  boots 
and  other  articles  with  the  prisoners,  always  getting  the  best 
of  the  trade. 

They  went  on  to  New  Market,  the  guard  pointing  out 
the  graves  of  the  Federals  who  had  died  there  the  previous 


482  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

summer,  and  the  part  of  the  mountain  where  Boycl  and  his 
command  met  their  disaster.  As  they  stopped  to  rest  in 
front  of  a  house  a  woman  came  out  and  gave  the  prisoners 
a  "turnover"  apple  pie.  In  reply  to  their  thanks  she  re 
marked  that  she  ''could  show  that  much  kindness  anyway." 
At  other  places  their  guard,  Powell,  would  ask  at  houses  for 
luncheon,  and  was  given  white  bread  and  apple  butter — the 
latter  a  favorite  relish  in  many  Virginia  families. 

They  stayed  that  night  at  New  Market,  sleeping  on  the 
floor  before  a  fire,  the  guard  keeping  watch  over  them.  The 
next  morning  they  were  crowded  into  an  old  stage  and  sent 
on  to  Harrisonburg.  Here  they  found  more  prisoners,  and 
the  next  day  were  sent  in  the  stage  to  Staunton.  From 
Staunton  to  Lexington  they  went  on  foot.  Here  in  the 
guard  house  were  men  who  had  been  sent  as  prisoners  to 
Lynchburg,  and  returned.  These  reported  the  progress  of 
Grant's  army.  Among  them  was  Jerome  B.  Pomeroy  of 
Co.  K,  familiarly  known  as  "Bony." 

The  prisoners  now  numbered  fourteen.  Over  them 
were  eighteen  guards.  Only  nine  of  the  fourteen  prisoners 
could  be  depended  on  for  fighting,  but  these  determined  to 
make  the  attempt  to  escape. 

They  were  stopping  a  night  at  Zollmaivs,  a  deserted 
country  store  on  the  bank  of  Buffalo  creek.  An  hour  after 
midnight  big  Dick  Norrish,  noticing  that  the  prisoners  were 
all  awake,  gave  the  signal  that  had  been  agreed  upon,  say 
ing  with  apparent  carelessness — "True  blue's  the  word." 
All  sprang  from  their  blankets,  rushed  upon  the  guards  at 
the  doors,  seized  their  arms,  then  made  for  those  outside. 
They  captured  all  the  guard.  They  marched  them  twelve 
miles  to  a  ferry,  that  was  moved  by  a  wire  rope  and  the  cur 
rent,  across  Buffalo  creek.  Here  they  left  their  prisoners — 
their  late  guards,  on  one  side  of  the  creek,  while  they  hur- 


THE  LAST  RAID  UP  THE  VALLEY.  483 

riedly  marched  away  from  the  other  side.     At  sunrise  they 
had  reached  the  mountains. 

Hiding  by  day  and  walking  by  night,  guided  by  a  former 
soldier  of  the  Anderson  Zouaves,  named  Mitchell,  who  had 
saved  himself  from  hanging  by  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  Confederacy,  they  reached  the  house  of  a  Union 
farmer  named  Coin,  near  Lynchburg.  Here  the  hospitable 
family  kept  them  till  morning.  Lynchburg  was  in  posses 
sion  of  the  Union  forces.  Lee  had  surrendered,  and  the 
war  was  ended.  The  late  prisoners  were  sent  to  City  Point 
and  home. 

Le  Moyne  Burleigh,  one  of  the  last  to  be  taken  prisoner 
and  one  of  the  pluckiest  in  effecting  the  capture  of  the  guard 
and  in  making  the  escape,  became  a  journalist.  He  was  for 
years  connected  with  the  leading  papers  of  New  York  City, 
and  is  still  an  editorial  writer  for  the  Standard  Union.  He 
has  been  honored  by  an  appointment  as  special  aide  on  the 
staff  of  the  commander-in-chief  of  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 
THE  FALL  OF  RICHMOND. 

THERE  were  hard  times  in  Richmond,  according  to 
the  rebel  war  clerk's  diary.  His  nominal  salary  had 
been  increased  to  $16,000  in  Confederate  paper — less  than 
$300  in  specie.  In  order  to  restore  its  fallen  credit  the 
government  was  selling  gold, — $i  for  $60  of  its  own  paper. 
Flour  was  $1,500  a  barrel;  bacon  $20  a  pound;  corn  meal 
$140  a  bushel;  shad  $50  a  pair;  wood  $500  a  cord.  Slaves 
were  cheap;  strong  men  bringing  not  more  than  $100  in 
specie,  less  than  one-tenth  of  what  they  used  to  bring.  This 
kind  of  wealth  had  depreciated. 

The  people  of  Richmond  had  been  watching  the  devel 
opment  of  Grant's  masterful  plans.  Sherman  had  marched 
unhindered  to  the  sea,  and  was  now  carrying  everything  be 
fore  him  on  his  way  through  the  Carolinas.  South  Caro 
lina  was  experiencing  some  of  the  effects  of  the  war  which 
she  had,  with  such  a  flourish  of  trumpets,  inaugurated 
four  years  before.  She  was  helpless  to  check  the  march  of 
the  Union  army  that  was  making  itself  at  home  in  all  her 
borders.  Thomas  had  scattered  Hood's  army,  their  last 
hope  in  the  west,  and  could  come  east  with  40,000  men. 
Sheridan  had  ridden  through  the  heart  of  Virginia,  and  was 
holding  his  splendid  cavalry  in  leash,  impatient  to  be  let  slip 
for  the  dislodgement  and  the  grand  round-up  of  the  noblest 
quarry  ever  hunted  on  the  continent. 


484 


THE  FALL  OF  RICHMOND.  485 

Peace  negotiations  had  been  attempted.  President 
Lincoln  had  come  down  to  the  James  river  to  meet  Con 
federate  commissioners.  The  only  result  was  that  the  peo 
ple  of  the  South  had  expressed  their  purpose  to  win  their 
independence  or  "perish  in  the  last  ditch."  "Everyone 
thinks  the  Confederacy  will  at  once  gather  up  its  military 
strength  and  strike  such  blows  as  will  astonish  the  world. 
There  will  be  desperate  conflicts!"  Vice-President  Steph 
ens  was  in  his  seat,  and  determined.  Mr.  Hunter  was 
"rolling  about  industriously."  "My  belief  is  that  the  only 
chance  for  Lee — and  a  desperate  one,  is  to  beat  Grant  im 
mediately,  before  the  grand  junction  can  be  formed.  If 
Lee  must  evacuate  Richmond,  where  can  he  go?" 

Grant  retired  each  night,  "sleeping  with  one  eye  open 
and  one  foot  out  of  bed,  fearing  lest  Lee  would  give  him 
the  slip." 

There  was  no  special  vindictiveness  on  the  part  of  those 
who  were  facing  each  other  along  the  lines.  The  Union 
men  were  confident.  Lincoln  had  made  them  a  visit,  and 
their  confidence  in  him  was  unbounded.  They  were  sure  of 
what  Grant  and  his  generals  could  do.  The  Confederates 
were  not  boasting  that  one  of  them  could  whip  half  a  dozen, 
or  put  a  multitude  to  flight.  There  were  occasional  friendly 
interviews  along  the  outer  lines.  The  Confederate  author 
ities  prohibited  this  exchange  of  civilities,  and  finally  gave 
orders  that  their  pickets  must  fire  a  shot  as  often  as  once 
every  five  minutes.  The  pickets  informed  the  Union  pick 
ets  of  this  order,  and  of  the  unpleasant  necessity  of  obeying 
it,  but  they  promised  to  do  no  unnecessary  harm.  Often 
the  call  came  from  their  line — "Hello,  there!  Look  out! 
Get  behind  something!  I'm  going  to  shoot!" 

Lee  had  made  a  desperate  attempt  to  break  through 
the  line  drawn  around  him  by  a  night  attack  on  Fort  Sted- 
man.  He  succeeded  in  taking  the  fort,  but  it  was  soon  re- 


486  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

taken,  and  he  could  only  wait  and  see  what  his  antagonist 
would  do. 

Running  southeast  from  Petersburg  was  the  railroad 
to  Norfolk.  This  had  long  been  in  the  possession  of  the 
Federals.  Next  was  the  Jerusalem  plank  road,  running 
along  the  Nottoway  river.  Next,  running  nearly  south, 
was  the  Weldon  railroad.  This  had  been  broken  in  De 
cember,  and  miles  of  it  had  been  destroyed.  The  Boydton 
plank  road  led  to  the  southwest.  West  from  Petersburg 
ran  the  Southside  railroad,  passing  a  little  to  the  south  of 
Appomattox  C.  H.  and  on  to  Lynchburg  where  it  connected 
with  roads  running  north  and  south.  From  Richmond  an 
other  railroad  toward  the  southwest  crossed  the  Southside 
at  Burkeville,  and  passed  on  to  Danville,  Va.,  near  the  state 
line,  and  then  into  North  Carolina. 

These  last  two  roads  were  the  only  ones  by  which  sup 
plies  could  be  brought  to  Lee's  army.  Lee's  lines  had  been 
extended  to  the  south  and  west  for  the  purpose  of  protect 
ing  these  roads.  Sheridan  with  his  cavalry  was  to  push 
ahead  and  cut  these  roads,  while  the  rest  of  the  army  was 
to  follow  and  support  him.  Lee  comprehended  the  situa 
tion,  and  withdrew  part  of  the  forces  that  were  in  the 
defences  of  Richmond,  and  between  that  city  and  Peters 
burg. 

March  29,  the  movement  began.  Sheridan  marched 
down  the  Jerusalem  plank  road,  and  turned  west.  At 
Reams'  station  he  crossed  the  Weldon  road  and  proceeded 
on  westward.  Lee's  extended  works  crossed  Hatcher's  run 
where  the  run  crossed  the  Boydton  plank  road.  Hatcher's 
run  and  Gravelly  run  unite  to  form  Rowanty  creek.  South 
of  the  last  named  is  Stony  creek.  All  these  flow  toward 
the  southeast.  Lee's  entrenchments  extended  west  of  the 
Boydton  road  for  about  four  miles.  Here  his  continuous 
entrenchments  ended.  Beyond  an  interval  other  earthworks 


THE  FALL  OF  RICHMOND.  487 

had  been  constructed  defending  a  strategic  point  where  sev 
eral  roads  intersected  the  White  Oak  road.  This  place  was 
called  the  Five  Forks. 

The  Fifth  corps  under  Warren  had  marched  at  3  in  the 
morning,  crossed  Rowanty  creek  and  turned  toward  the 
right.  Humphrey's  Second  corps  crossed  Hatcher's  run 
north  of  \<Varren's  crossing,  and  bore  northward,  the  two 
corps  moving  on  nearly  parallel  roads.  Warren  encount 
ered  the  enemy  in  line  of  battle  two  miles  in  front  of  their 
entrenchments.  A  sharp  fight  took  place.  Humphreys 
had  marched  over  a  more  difficult  road,  but  encountered 
only  skirmishers. 

It  had  been  planned  that  Sheridan  should  cut  loose 
from  the  rest  of  the  army  and  break  Lee's  lines  of  com 
munication.  Some  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  had  been  mov 
ing  along  on  the  south  side  of  Stony  creek,  apparently  in 
tending  to  head  off  Sheridan.  But  the  latter  reached  Din- 
widclie  C.  H.  after  some  skirmishing,  driving  out  the  en 
emy's  pickets.  That  night  Sheridan  stayed  at  Dinwiddie, 
while  Warren  and  Humphreys  were  in  camp  six  miles  to  the 
north,  and  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works. 

The  morning  of  the  3Oth,  plans  were  changed.  The 
two  railroads  were  now  of  secondary  importance.  Grant's 
purpose  now  was  to  break  Lee's  line  of  defence,  get  around 
his  right,  and  "end  the  matter"  before  going  back.  All  the 
rainy  night  of  the  2Qth  Lee  was  hurrying  forward  his  forces 
to  strengthen  his  right. 

Sheridan  sent  Devin's  division,  supported  by  Davies,  to 
break  this  line.  But  the  works  were  too  strong  and  were 
too  well  defended  by  the  15,000  who  had  been  hurried  there, 
and  the  cavalry  fell  back  to  Dinwiddie.  The  morning  of 
the  3Oth,  the  roads  wrere  so  bad  from  the  rains  that  Grant 
proposed  to  wait  a  day.  But  Lee  could  not  afford  to  wait. 
His  right  was  menaced :  he  must  break  this  extension  of 


488  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  Union  left.  His  cavalry,  had  been  separated  from  him 
by  Sheridan's  march  to  Dinwiddie.  It  had  made  a  wide 
circuit  to  westward  and  now  had  rejoined  him.  Warren 
was  crowding  his  extreme  right. 

Lee's  attack  was  made  with  skill  and  vigor,  and  for  a 
time  seemed  promising.  Part  of  the  Union  force  was 
driven  back,  but  was  supported  by  others,  hurried  to  the 
scene  of  the  attack,  and  the  Confederates  were  driven  back 
within  their  works  with  heavy  loss. 

While  this  fighting  was  going  on,  Sheridan  had  sent 
Devin's  cavalry  to  Five  Forks,  to  the  left  of  the  position 
where  the  Second  and  Fifth  corps  had  been  battling.  The 
cavalry  captured  these  works.  This  was  an  additional 
menace  to  Lee.  This  position  must  be  retaken  and  held. 
He  sent  two  divisions  to  recover  these  works.  They  attacked 
with  such  vigor  that  the  cavalry  were  driven  out  and  back 
toward  Dinwiddie  C.  H.  The  Confederates,  pursuing  in 
force,  got  between  Devin  and  the  rest  of  the  cavalry  corps. 
Devin  was  compelled  to  make  a  circuitous  march.  The  en 
emy  mistook  this  movement  for  a  retreat  and  pursued. 
Upon  the  flank  of  this  pursuing  column  Sheridan  hurled  the 
brigades  of  Gregg  and  Gibbs  with  such  force  that  it  was 
routed  and  driven  back. 

During  the  night  the  sleepless  Sheridan  became  con 
vinced  that  the  enemy  were  withdrawing  from  his  front. 
The  Fifth  corps  was  ordered  up.  The  advance  division 
reached  him  at  daybreak.  Sheridan  started  on.  The  Fifth 
was  to  follow.  At  seven  o'clock  the  other  divisions  were 
up.  Advancing  toward  Five  Forks,  Merritt  found  a  supe 
rior  force  in  his  front.  Custer's  division,  eight  miles  away, 
was  ordered  to  his  support.  The  brigades  of  Capehart  and 
Pennington,  after  riding  hard,  came  upon  the  field.  The 
men  were  dismounted  and  ordered  forward.  Hastily 
throwing  up  defences  of  railb  they  held  their  ground  against 


THE  FALL  OF  RICHMOND.  489 

strong  forces  of  Pickett's  division,  Wise's  independent 
brigade  of  infantry,  and  the  cavalry  of  Rosser,  Fitzhugh 
Lee  and  W.  H.  Lee.  The  fight  was  a  determined  one.  The 
men  of  the  regiment  were  face  to  face  with  veterans  they 
had  often  met  in  the  Valley,  and  each  side  was  doing  its 
best.  The  battle  was  not  decided  that  night.  When  dark 
ness  settled  over  the  field  the  hostile  lines  rested  on  their 
arms  within  musket  range  of  each  other.  The  next  day 
the  stubborn  fighting  was  continued  until  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon.  The  Fifth  corps  had  then  arrived.  The  dis 
mounted  cavalry  who  had  so  determinedly  held  the  ground 
were  relieved.  It  was  at  a  disadvantage  that  these  cavalry 
men,  dismounted,  and  armed  with  carbines,  had  contended 
against  veteran  infantry  supported  by  the  best  cavalry  of 
the  Confederacy.  The  persistency  of  that  fighting  was  sel 
dom  equalled.  At  3  in  the  afternoon  of  April  i,  the  second 
day  of  the  fighting,  there  was  the  welcome  sight  of  the  com 
ing  of  the  Fifth  corps.  As  one  of  the  cavalrymen  said : 
"Oh,  but  we  were  glad  to  see  those  'toe  boys'  coming." 
The  Fifth  corps  now  relieved  them  from  their  long,  weary 
ing,  dismounted  fighting.  The  men  of  all  three  cavalry 
divisions  fell  back  to  their  horses,  and  after  an  hour's  rest, 
mounted  and  rode  forward  in  a  sweeping  charge  on  the  right 
and  left.  The  infantry  poured  over  the  works.  It  was  an 
attack  that  the  veteran  Confederates,  even  within  their  de 
fences,  could  not  withstand.  The  Southside  railroad  was 
in  the  possession  of  the  Union  troops.  Lee's  line  of  com 
munication  and  supplies  was  broken.  The  victory  was  com 
plete  and  decisive. 

Crawford  had  passed  on  to  Ford's  station  and  headed 
off  the  Confederates  from  their  retreat  to  the  main  army. 
Still  they  fought  with  desperation.  But  with  cavalry  and 
infantry  crowding  upon  them  they  broke  away  and  fled 


490  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

toward  the  northwest,  with  the  cavalry  pursuing  them  until 
long  after  dark. 

The  Union  loss  was  1,000;  the  Confederate,  5,000 
prisoners  and  many  killed.  In  this  succession  of  battles  at 
Five  Forks  the  Union  cavalry  had  fought  dismounted,  and 
mounted,  as  occasion  required.  Sheridan  had  commanded 
the  infantry  as  well  as  the  cavalry.  It  was  a  hard  day's 
work  magnificently  done. 

Sheridan  had  got  so  far  in  advance  that  he  had  to  send 
forces  to  reopen  communication  with  the  lines  south  of 
Petersburg.  Infantry  and  cavalry  he  sent  to  the  Ford  road 
to  be  ready  for  any  movement  in  that  direction. 

The  effect  of  this  victory  was  felt  through  the  thirty- 
five  miles  of  the  besiegers.  The  general-in-chief  ordered 
the  bombardment  of  the  works  by  the  heavy  guns.  All 
night,  till  four  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  2nd,  the  bom 
bardment  was  kept  up.  In  the  early  morning  assaults  were 
made  all  along  the  line.  The  outer  lines  were  carried  by 
storm,  and  the  Confederates  were  confined  to  the  inner  lines, 
Longstreet's  reduced  command  was  called  from  Richmond. 
One  more  effort  Lee  made  to  break  the  besieging  lines.  It 
failed.  His  assaulting  masses  were  hurled  back.  At  half- 
past  ten  that  Sunday  morning,  he  telegraphed  Jefferson 
Davis,  who  was  in  church :  "My  lines  are  broken  in  three 
places;  Richmond  must  be  evacuated  this  evening." 

Our  old  friend  Captain  Amos  P.  Foster  of  the  gunboat 
fleet,  who  had  convoyed  us  down  the  Chesapeake  to  the 
Peninsula  in  '62 ;  who  had  thrown  his  enormous  shells — ex 
ploding  fence  posts,  or  whole  blacksmith  shops,  forge,  anvil 
and  all,  the  Confederates  called  them — clear  over  the  Union 
army  and  into  that  of  the  enemy  at  Malvern  Hill ;  who  had 
fired  upon  the  Confederates  dressed  as  women  across  from 
Harrison's  landing,  was  now  commanding  the  Commodore 
Perry,  lying  near  the  Dutch  Gap  canal.  As  illustrating  the 
feeling  among  the  men  both  of  the  army  and  navy  as  they 


CAPTAIN  AMOS   P.  FOSTER. 
Of  the  Gunboat  Fleet. 


EUGENE  LEWIS. 


ROBERT  LEDWARD. 


THE  FALL  OF  RICHMOND.  491 

saw  the  end  of  the  long  siege  near  at  hand,  the  following  by 
O.  E.  Pierce,  signal  officer  of  the  Perry,  is  interesting : 

Captain  Foster  had  been  on  deck  most  of  the  night,  but  had  gone 
below.  At  4  o'clock  he  came  on  deck  again  and  asked  the  morning 
watch  if  he  had  heard  any  firing  up  the  river  the  past  hour.  He 
replied  that  he  had  not.  The  captain  said:  "I  would  not  be  surprised 
if  the  end  of  all  this  should  be  within  twenty-four  hours."  Scarcely 

had  the  words  left  his  lips  when, — "Sh ! !"  went  a  sheet  of  flame 

up  into  the  heavens,  followed  by  a  terrific  explosion.  "There,"  said 

the  captain,  "goes  a  rebel  iron-clad !"  "Sh ! !"  went  another  sheet 

of  flame,  and  another  explosion.  "There  goes  another!"  said  the  cap 
tain.  The  gig  was  called  away  and  the  captain  went  on  shore  and 
climbed  to  the  top  of  the  "Old  Crow's  Nest"  signal  tower.  In  about 
an  hour  he  returned  on  board,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  distinguishing 
pennant  of  the  Perry  was  seen  flying  at  the  masthead  of  the  flagship, 
and  under  it  was  a  signal  which  read :  "Get  under  weigh — Take  the 
lead  to  Richmond  ! — Be  very  careful  of  torpedoes !"  My  God !  What 
a  feeling  went  through  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  old  Perry  when 
the  fact  was  made  known  to  them ! 

The  old  boat  had  borne  the  brunt  of  several  fights,  and  bore  the 
marks  of  shot  and  shell,  and  now  she  was  to  pass  through  the  ordeal 
of  clearing  the  James  river  of  torpedoes,  and  if  successful  she  would 
be  the  first  boat  at  Richmond. 

The  boatswain's  whistle  piped  out  louder  and  clearer  on  that  morn 
ing  than  it  had  ever  done  before,  and  the  old  familiar  voice  sounded 
louder  than  ever  as  he  called,  "All  hands,  up  anchor !"  The  anchor 
came  to  that  cat-head  quicker  than  any  anchor  was  ever  cat-headed 
before,  and  the  good  old  boat  began  to  move  up  the  river  over  waters 
that  no  Union  vessel  had  touched  since  the  war  began. 

The  first  and  second  cutters  and  the  dingey  were  sent  ahead  to 
search  for  torpedoes.  They  had  not  long  to  search — a  little  chip  was 
seen  floating  in  the  water.  It  was  examined — a  line  was  found  at 
tached,  and  on  the  end  of  that  a  tin  can  containing  seventy-five  pounds 
of  powder.  Cautiously  the  crews  worked  away,  cutting  lines  and  wires, 
until  the  torpedo  was  brought  to  the  surface,  the  can  cut  open  and  the 
contents  spilled  into  the  river.  There  were  torpedoes  of  all  shapes  and 
sizes.  One  was  a  large  iron  box  containing  four  hundred  pounds  of 
powder,  connected  by  wire  to  a  battery  on  shore. 

So  the  boat  crews  toiled  along  until  they  had  taken  out  fifty-one 
torpedoes,  and  the  James  river  was  cleared  of  them. 

In  passing  up,  the  captain  saw  groups  of  men  in  Confederate  uni 
form  on  the  river  bank.  He  hailed  them,  and  found  they  were  the 


4-92  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

remnants  of  the  famous  General  Pickett's  command.  He  took  them 
on  board,  and  asked  them  where  their  guns  were.  One  man  replied, 
with  emphasis,  "We  have  had  all  the  gunning  we  want."  These  men 
were  sent  to  the  rear  in  three  tugs,  and  turned  over  to  the  troops 
at  Fort  Brady. 

We  reached  Fort  Darling,  and  to  our  great  disgust  ran  hard  and 
fast  aground  on  the  obstructions  placed  across  the  river  at  that  point.  We 
worked  the  steamer,  first  backward,  then  forward.  Finally  the  captain 
ordered  a  part  of  the  coal  thrown  overboard,  and  had  all  the  guns  moved 
over  on  the  starboard  side  to  give  the  vessel  a  lift.  He  ordered  the 
chief  engineer  to  pay  no  attention  to  the  engine  bells,  but  to  work  her 
just  ahead  and  then  back,  hoping  in  that  way  to  work  her  over  the 
obstructions.  Just  at  this  time  the  U.  S.  steamer  Malvern,  Admiral 
Porter's  flagship,  came  up,  and,  finding  she  could  not  pass  us,  came  to 
anchor  astern  of  us. 

We  then  learned  that  Abraham  Lincoln  was  on  board  the  flagship. 
The  admiral  then  conceived  the  idea  of  taking  the  President  in  his 
barge  and  pulling  to  Richmond.  The  barge  was  lowered;  the  Presi 
dent  and  the  admiral  took  their  seats  in  the  stern  sheets.  Lieutenant 
Commander  Barnes,  with  a  body  guard  of  marines,  followed  in  the 
Malvern' s  first  cutter. 

Between  the  Perry  and  the  shore  was  a  very  narrow  passage  of 
deep  water,  and  it  was  through  this  that  the  admiral  intended  the 
boats  should  pull.  But  on  reaching  this,  he  found  it  was  not  wide 
enough  for  him  to  pass  through  pulling  the  oars  on  both  sides.  Just 
as  they  had  given  the  barge  good  headway — thinking  she  would  shoot 
far  enough  ahead  to  clear  the  steamer  and  allow  them  to  use  the  oars 
again — the  current  struck  her  on  the  bow  and  set  her  directly  under 
the  steamer's  immense  wheel.  At  this  very  moment  the  engineer,  not 
aware  that  anyone  was  near  the  wheel,  began  to  turn  her  over. 

It  was  a  critical  moment.  The  President  halloed;  the  admiral 
halloed ;  and  the  crew  halloed.  Captain  Foster,  remembering  that  he 
had  ordered  the  engineer  to  pay  no  attention  to  the  bells,  ran  to  the 
engine  room  hatch  and  called  out  to  stop.  It  was  not  an  instant  too 
soon :  had  the  wheel  gone  over  once  more,  it  would  have  caused  the 
death  of  most  of  those  in  the  barge. 

When  they  were  extricated  from,  their  perilous  situation,  the 
admiral  called  out:  "Where  is  the  captain  of  this  vessel?"  "Here  I 
am,  sir,"  said  Captain  Foster,  leaning  over  the  ship  rail.  "Well,  sir," 
replied  the  admiral,  "when  you  back  off  from  here,  don't  you  attempt 
to  go  to  Richmond.  Come  to  an  anchor  and  allow  the  other  boats  to  go 
up."  "Aye,  aye,  sir,"  replied  the  captain,  and  the  barge  and  the  cutter 
went  on. 


THE  FALL  OF  RICHMOND.  493 

After  working  the  engine  for  some  time  the  captain  conceived  the 
idea  of  trying  to  squeeze  the  three  tugs  before  mentioned,  through  the 
cut  the  barge  had  passed,  and  after  much  pulling  and  hauling  and 
hard  work,  (and,  I  was  going  to  say,  swearing)  the  thing  was  accom 
plished.  He  then  ordered  the  three  tugs  to  anchor,  one  ahead  of  the 
other,  above  the  Perry,  and  ran  a  fifteen-inch  hawser  to  them,  leaving 
a  slack  of  twenty  fathoms  between  the  Perry  and  the  nearest  tug 
boat.  "Now,"  said  he  to  the  captain  of  the  tugs,  "when  I  wave  my 
handkerchief,  go  ahead,  and  when  I  wave  my  handkerchief  the  second 
time,  ring  your  jingle  bells  and  go  ahead  at  full  speed." 

How  we  watched  that  experiment !  The  handkerchief  was  waved — 
the  tugs  started.  Another  wave,  and  away  they  darted.  The  Perry's 
machinery  was  working,  too.  The  slack  in  the  hawser  straightened 
out — Crash ! — went  the  obstructions,  and  away  went  the  good  old  Perry 
over  the  obstructions,  bow  first !  What  a  cheer  rent  the  air !  Away 
we  went  under  a  full  head  of  steam,  and  in  a  short  time  we  dropped  our 
anchor.  The  Commodore  Perry  was  the  first  boat  at  Richmond. 
Afterward  the  flagship  came  up  and  anchored. 

At  evening  the  President  and  the  admiral,  who  had  spent  all  the 
afternoon  in  the  rebel  capital,  returned  on  board  the  Malvern.  It  then 
became  Captain  Foster's  duty  to  report  to  the  admiral  his  arrival  at 
Richmond.  The  gig  was  called  away  and  the  captain  started  for  the 
flagship.  On  going  on  board  he  was  met  by  Fleet  Captain  Bruce 
who  said,  "You'll  get  it,  old  fellow,  for  coming  up  here." 

The  message  was  given  to  the  admiral  by  the  orderly  at  the  cabin 
door,  that  the  captain  of  the  Perry  was  on  board,  and  he  was  asked 
to  walk  into  the  cabin.  Here  at  a  round  table  sat  Mr.  Lincoln  and 
the  admiral.  Saluting  both,  Captain  Foster  said :  "Admiral,  I  have 
the  honor  to  report  the  arrival  of  the  U.  S.  steamer  Commodore  Perry 
at  Richmond." 

The  admiral,  who  was  a  perfect  martinet,  replied:  "I  thought  I 
told  you  not  to  attempt  to  come  to  Richmond,  sir."  The  captain  re 
plied,  "I  did  not  so  understand  you,  sir.  I  understood  you  to  say 
when  I  backed  off  not  to  attempt  to  come  up."  "Well,  sir,"  said  the 
admiral,  looking  sternly  at  him.  "I  did  not  back  off,"  said  the  captain 
with  a  smile,  "I  came  off  bow  first." 

The  admiral  was  mad,  but  Old  Abe  saw  the  joke  and  enjoyed  it, 
as  he  always  enjoyed  a  good  joke,  and  laughed  loudly.  He  arose  and 
shook  the  captain's  hand  warmly,  saying:  "Captain,  I  congratulate 
you  on  commanding  the  first  boat  to  Richmond. 

The  admiral  saw  it  was  against  him,  and  said  sternly:  "Go  on 
board  your  vessel,  sir,  and  I  will  see  you  in  the  morning  concerning 
the  matter."  But  that  was  the  last  of  it. 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN, 
i 

GREAT  was  the  joy  along  the  line  of  the  besieging 
army.  The  men  could  not  wait  till  daylight.  Every 
where  they  were  pouring  over  the  works,  gathering  in  the 
stragglers  who  in  parties  of  two,  or  three,  or  a  dozen,  were 
wandering  along  in  the  direction  which  the  army  had  taken. 
These  seemed  not  unwilling  to  be  gathered  in.  All  through 
the  abandoned  earthworks  were  the  wrecks  and  ruins  of 
their  winter  quarters. 

Grant  did  not  stop  to  make  a  triumphal  entry  into  the 
fallen  Confederate  capital.  There  was  a  larger  prize  to  be 
won.  Sheridan  was  already  pushing  on  to  get  in  the  ad 
vance  of  the  army  that  was  trying  to  escape.  The  forces  in 
Petersburg  were  to  go  out  along  the  Southside  railroad. 
Those  in  Richmond  were  to  follow  along  the  line  of  the 
Danville  road.  All  these,  uniting  at  Amelia  Court  House 
would  go  on  to  Burkeville  where  there  would  be  railroad 
transportation  southward.  Lee  reached  Amelia  C.  H.  only 
to  find  that  the  trains  loaded  with  supplies  that  he  had  or 
dered  there,  had  gone  on  to  Richmond,  and  there  the  stores 
had  been  consumed  in  the  conflagration.  All  available 
facilities  for  transportation  were  needed  for  officials,  their 
families  and  household  goods,  the  records  and  other  prop 
erty  of  the  departments  of  the  government. 

The  4th,  Sheridan  was  at  Jetersville,  seven  miles  from 
Amelia  C.  H.  on  the  Danville  road,  and  the  most  of  his 

494 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         495 

cavalry  were  almost  to  Burkeville,  the  junction  of  the  two 
roads.  With  both  cavalry  and  infantry  he  was  partially 
entrenched  across  the  line  of  the  proposed  retreat.  Lee, 
being  thus  headed  off,  moved  toward  the  north  and  west, 
hoping  to  reach  Lynchburg,  for  Meade  had  reached  Sheri 
dan  at  Jetersville,  and  Lee  could  not  hope  to  fight  both. 
Late  on  the  5th,  Sheridan  sent  out  Davies,  who  found  Lee 
moving  westward  from  Amelia  C.  H.,  his  cavalry  in  front 
and  his  infantry  in  the  rear  of  his  train  of  180  wagons. 
Davies  struck  this  column  sidewise,  took  and  destroyed  the 
wagons,  and  captured  five  guns  and  many  prisoners.  It 
was  a  quick,  hard  blow  that  he  struck,  and  the  retreating 
army  quickened  its  pace. 

The  morning  of  the  6th,  Lee  was  making  westward 
toward  Deatonsville.  There  were  now  three  columns  in 
pursuit — one  on  each  side,  and  one  behind.  The  Army  of 
the  James  had  been  hurried  forward  on  the  south  and  was 
at  Burkeville.  The  morning  of  the  6th,  it  hastened  on  to 
Farmville.  An  advance  that  had  been  sent  on  to  destroy 
the  bridges  over  the  Appomattox  at  Farmville  was  driven 
off,  and  General  Read,  its  leader,  killed.  The  bridges 
were  saved  to  the  Confederates,  but  their  progress  was 
checked,  and  all  the  Army  of  the  James  was  now  in  their 
front.  Near  Deatonsville  Crook  struck  another  of  Lee's 
trains,  checking  his  course,  while  Custer  passed  on  and 
gained  the  road  at  Sailor's  creek.  Crook  and  Devin  then 
hurried  on  to  Custer's  support,  and  together  they  struck 
Lee's  column  a  staggering  blow,  taking  400  wagons  and 
1 6  guns.  By  this  blow  E well's  corps  was  cut  off  from  the 
rest  of  Lee's  army.  By  a  vigorous  attack  by  Stagg's  bri 
gade,  Sheridan  kept  Ewell  from  again  uniting  with  Lee. 
In  the  meantime,  the  Sixth  corps  was  hurrying  up.  By  a 
division  of  this  corps  Ewell  was  turned  back  to  Sailor's 
creek. 


496  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  Confederates,  without  sufficient  rations,  living  on 
what  they  could  find  along  the  way,  eating  the  buds  and 
bark  from  trees  and  bushes,  still  manifested  wonderful 
courage. 

When  Sheridan,  on  his  inarch  to  join  Grant,  was  ap 
proaching  the  Pamunkey  river,  Lieut.  Col.  Battersby  was 
ordered  to  take  his  regiment  to  Taylor's  ford,  and  guard 
the  ford  while  the  army  was  passing,  when  he  was  to  fall 
in  the  rear  as  rear  guard.  It  was  an  important  duty,  to 
guard  against  an  attack  on  the  flank  of  a  marching  column. 
There  was  some  misunderstanding  about  the  location,  or  the 
distance  to  the  ford.  Also,  the  carrying  out  of  the  orders 
exactly  as  given  was  interfered  with  by  the  report  that  a 
body  of  the  enmy  was  prepared  to  attack  the  regiment  on 
the  way,  and  instead  of  a  direct  march,  a  circuitous  one  was 
made,  and  it  was  late  at  night  when  the  regiment  joined 
the  rest  of  the  army.  The  lieutenant  colonel  was  put  under 
arrest,  and  was  tried  before  a  court  martial  at  the  White 
House.  Before  the  decision  of  the  court  was  made  public, 
the  army  moved  on.  In  the  battles  that  followed  nearly 
every  member  of  the  court  martial  was  killed  or  wounded. 
The  judge  advocate,  who  had  the  record  of  the  proceedings 
in  his  possession,  was  killed,  and  the  decision  of  the  court 
was  never  published. 

At  Charlottesville  the  lieutenant  colonel  had  been  en 
tertained  at  the  house  of  Judge  Watson,  whose  son  was 
adjutant  of  the  52d  Virginia  infantry.  While  under  arrest 
the  lieutenant  colonel,  being  relieved  from  duty,  was  free  to 
wander  around.  He  searched  among  the  prisoners  taken 
at  Five  Forks,  and  found  the  son  of  his  host  at  Charlottes 
ville,  and  made  a  return  for  the  kindness  he  had  received 
by  interceding  for  the  prisoner. 

Colonel  Adams  had  not  returned  from  his  leave  of 
absence;  the  lieutenant  colonel  was  under  arrest;  Major 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         497 

Bailey  was  provost  marshal  of  the  cavalry  corps;  Major 
Martindale  had  been  left  in  command  of  the  detachment  at 
Winchester;  Major  Passegger  was  on  other  duty,  and  there 
was  not  an  officer  above  the  rank  of  captain  present  with  the 
regiment  in  all  this  campaign  in  pursuit  of  Lee.  Some  of 
the  companies  were  commanded  by  sergeants.  And  yet  the 
most  splendid  fighting  the  regiment  ever  did  was  done  in 
this  final  campaign.  Now  and  then  a  captain  would  be  in 
command.  But  the  men,  keeping  together,  whether  led  by 
an  officer  or  not,  were  doing  their  best.  Captain  Savacool 
of  Co.  K,  slight  in  form,  alert,  fearless,  was  an  inspiration 
to  the  entire  regiment.  And  Col.  Capehart,  commanding 
the  brigade,  watched  all  his  regiments  with  interest. 

But  the  busiest  men  in  the  army  were  the  scouts,  and 
the  services  they  did  were  of  the  greatest  importance.  Their 
adventures,  related  in  detail,  would  make  a  larger  book  than 
this.  In  Confederate  gray  or  in  any  disguise  that  would 
answer  their  purpose,  they  were  in  and  out  of  the  lines  at 
all  hours  by  day  and  by  night,  riding  all  through  the  Con 
federate  army,  and  reporting  very  movement.  Dunn,  the 
Goublemans,  Warren,  White,  Hogan,  Valentine,  Forkey, 
and  others  accomplished  more  than  some  entire  battalions. 
Their  work  was  perilous,  but  they  became  so  accustomed 
to  the  peril  that  they  did  not  heed  it. 

A  few  of  many  instances  to  illustrate  the  character  of 
their  work :  Valentine,  away  outside  the  lines,  came  upon 
two  Confederate  infantrymen  who  had  straggled  behind, 
With  the  severity  of  a  provost  guard  he  demanded  why  they 
were  away  from  their  command.  "We  became  so  tired  we 
could  not  go  on,  and  now  wre  do  not  know  where  our  com 
mand  is."  "What  command  do  you  belong  to?"  They 
told  him.  "Come  along  with  me  and  I'll  show  you  where 
to  go.  Now  be  lively  or  the  Yankees  will  get  you !"  And 
soon  they  were  in  the  Union  lines,  and  prisoners. 


498  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Dunn  and  Ed  Goubleman  were  following  some  Con 
federates,  when  three  others  closed  in  behind  them.  Dunn's 
horse  was  shot  in  the  hips,  and  Goubleman  was  shot  in  the 
arm.  They  turned  into  a  field  to  the  left,  and  riding  up  a 
hill,  gave  their  pursuers  the  contents  of  their  revolvers. 
Then  they  in  turn  fell  in  the  rear  and  became  pursuers  and 
ran  down  all  their  late  pursuers,  Goubleman  killing  one  in 
a  hand  to  hand  fight  with  sabres.  In  the  chase  Dunn  and 
Tone  were  riding  on  opposite  sides  of  a  single  Confederate 
who  refused  to  surrender.  Both  were  cutting  at  him  with 
their  sabres.  Finally  he  was  struck  a  terrific  blow  in  the 
mouth,  and  turning  a  complete  summersault  over  his  horse, 
fell  to  the  ground,  and  that  was  the  last  they  knew  of  him. 

Several  scouts,  in  carrying  dispatches,  came  upon  a 
small  force  of  the  enemy.  By  making  a  circuit  they  came 
upon  their  flank,  and  yelling  to  the  regiment  to  "close  up," 
they  led  the  charge,  routing  the  enemy  and  chasing  them 
back  upon  a  large  body  in  reserve,  when  they  withdrew. 

Again,  they  observed  the  advance  of  larger  force  com 
ing  forward.  Concealing  themselves  behind  a  small  hill, 
they  broke  upon  these  and  drove  them  back.  But  the  en 
emy's  flankers  were  closing  around  them  from  either  side. 
Now  it  was  a  race  for  life.  Dunn  dismounted  to  open  a 
gate.  The  gate  was  splintered  by  carbine  shots.  Dunn's 
horse  broke  away.  Dunn  fastened  the  gate.  His  comrades 
did  not  at  the  time  notice  him.  He  called  to  a  farmer  who 
was  ploughing,  to  catch  his  horse.  This  he  did.  Dunn 
reached  his  horse,  and  got  behind  him,  using  his  revolver 
to  keep  back  three  of  the  enemy  who  were  following  him. 
He  called  for  Goubleman  and  Hogan.  As  they  came  the 
Confederates  halted.  Dunn  was  able  to  mount,  and  all 
escaped,  a  large  number  of  the  enemy  following  them. 

While  with  Sheridan  in  the  Valley  they  were  always 
encouraged  to  come  to  him  at  any  time  to  report  what  they 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         499 

had  learned.  At  one  time  in  Sheridan's  absence  it  was 
necessary  to  report  to  a  corps  commander.  They  had  had 
a  long,  hard  ride.  In  reporting  they  suggested  that  he  order 
a  reconnoissance,  and  strengthen  an  outpost  to  guard  against 
a  surprise.  The  corps  commander  asked:  "How  long 
since  you  have  been  in  command  of  this  department  ?"  They 
replied  that  they  had  made  such  suggestions  to  Sheridan, 
his  superior,  and  no  offense  was  ever  taken.  They  were 
sent  to  their  quarters  under  arrest  for  their  impertinence  in 
making  suggestions.  The  event  they  had  cautioned  him  to 
guard  against  happened.  In  this  one  case  their  services 
were  not  appreciated. 

Before  reaching  Jetersville,  about  fifteen  of  Major 
Young's  scouts,  all  in  gray,  were  riding  along  with  one  of 
Lee's  columns.  A  brigade  commander  with  a  few  of  his 
staff  was  riding  some  distance  ahead  of  his  brigade.  The 
scouts,  dividing,  rode  up  leisurely  on  either  side  of  the  gen 
eral  and  his  staff.  It  was  about  noon.  At  an  opportune 
moment  they  quietly  presented  their  pistols  at  the  heads  of 
these  gentlemen  and  marched  them  off  the  road  into  the 
woods,  the  command  supposing  they  were  turning  aside  for 
rest  and  dinner.  They  were  all  brought  to  headquarters 
as  prisoners. 

The  next  day  the  colonel  of  a  North  Carolina  regiment 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  brigade  that  had  lost  its 
leader.  Several  scouts  rode  up  beside  the  colonel  and  his 
adjutant,  saluted  and  entered  into  conversation,  stating  that 
they  belonged  to  the  Sixth  Virginia  cavalry,  the  Yankees 
were  all  over,  and  they  had  lost  their  regiment,  and  with 
his  permission  they  would  go  along  with  him.  He  told 
them  their  regiment  was  three  or  four  miles  below,  and  that 
he  was  to  join  other  forces  and  drive  Sheridan  out  of  Jeters 
ville.  Watching  for  the  right  time  they  drew  their  revol 
vers,  and  commanded  the  others  to  surrender,  saying  that 


500  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

they  believed  they  were  Yankees.  The  colonel  laughed  and 
thought  that  was  a  good  joke.  He  told  his  adjutant  to 
show  the  scouts  a  letter  from  the  medical  director  of  the 
Confederate  army.  The  scouts  would  not  accept  this  as 
evidence,  for  he  might  have  captured  the  medical  director 
and  got  the  letter  in  that  way.  Again  he  laughed,  and 
told  his  adjutant  to  show  them  the  headquarters  flag  which, 
at  the  time,  he  was  carrying  folded.  One  of  the  scouts 
reached  over  and  took  the  flag.  The  colonel  was  then  asked 
to  describe  the  general  who  was  recently  in  command  of  the 
brigade,  and  his  adjutant  general.  When  he  had  done  so, 
Dunn  replied :  "The  description  is  good.  We  captured 
them  both  yesterday.  We  are  Yankees,  and  you  are  our 
prisoners."  The  colonel  had  to  submit,  but  declared  it  was 
a  characteristic,  mean,  Yankee  trick. 

On  a  long  ride  in  a  rainy  night  three  of  them  stopped 
at  a  cabin  for  shelter,  rest  and  food.  They  had  learned  to 
be  sharp,  but  occasionally  they  found  people  as  sharp  as 
themselves.  As  they  were  resting  in  this  cabin  one  of  them 
unguardedly  used  the  words,  "I  guess."  It  was  different 
from  the  "I  reckon,"  common  in  that  locality.  They  saw 
that  their  host's  suspicions  were  aroused.  He  started  to 
leave  the  room,  saying  that  he  would  look  after  their  horses. 
They  would  not  allow  him  to  go  out.  When  sufficiently 
rested  and  refreshed,  they  tied  the  gentleman  up,  locked  the 
door,  mounted  their  horses  and  rode  on.  The  night  was 
intensely  dark  and  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents.  They 
missed  their  road,  ran  close  upon  a  large  picket  post,  but  in 
the  darkness  they  succeeded  in  flanking  it. 

From  Dinwiddie  Court  House  ten  of  these  scouts  were 
sent  to  break,  if  possible,  the  Danville  railroad  by  which,  it 
was  expected,  the  high  officials  of  the  Confederacy  would 
attempt  to  escape.  The  ten  impressed  into  their  service  an 
old  negro  who  knew  the  country,  but  who  was  terribly  afraid 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         501 

that  the  Confederates  would  get  him  and  kill  him  for  thus 
acting  as  guide.  But  he  had  to  go.  The  party  had  reached 
a  trestle  and  cut  the  wires  as  the  train  dashed  past.  Had 
they  been  but  a  few  minutes  sooner  they  would  have  derailed 
the  train  on  which  were  Davis  and  his  cabinet  with  the  Con 
federate  treasury. 

The  complete  record  of  the  work  of  all  these  scouts 
would  be  interesting  history.  But  it  is  not  now  to  be  ob 
tained.  Before  Savacool  became  captain  of  Co.  K,  he  and 
Warren  generally  scouted  together.  These  two,  together 
and  singly,  captured  one  hundred  and  fifty  Confederates. 
Warren  alone  captured  forty-three.  And  it  is  to  be  said  of 
these  scouts,  that,  notwithstanding  their  rough  experiences, 
they  never  forgot  to  be  gentlemen,  some  of  them  never,  in 
their  entire  service,  tasting  intoxicating  drink. 

At  Jetersville  Lee  encountered  Sheridan's  cavalry  un 
der  Merritt,  and  later,  part  of  the  Fifth  corps.  The  Sixth 
corps  reached  Jetersville  the  evening  of  the  5th.  Lee's 
retreat  to  Danville  by  way  of  Burkeville  was  no  longer 
possible. 

The  night  of  the  5th,  Longstreet's  and  Ewell's  corps 
moved  from  Amelia  C.  H.  to  the  north  and  west,  through 
Deatonsville  and  Painesville,  by  a  circuitous  route  around  the 
left  of  the  Union  forces,  intending  then  to  strike  southward 
to  Danville.  The  morning  of  the  6th,  the  Union  forces  at 
Jetersville  moved  northward  toward  Amelia  C.  H.,  where 
Lee's  army  was  the  evening  before.  But  now  Lee  was  gone. 

These  forces  now  marched  back  to  Jetersville.  Mer- 
ritt's  cavalry  hurried  on  westward  to  intercept  the  retreating 
army.  The  Sixth  corps  hurried  on  after  Merritt,  and  came 
up  with  him  about  half-way  between  Sailor's  creek  and  Dea 
tonsville.  The  cavalry  was  hotly  engaged  with  a  force  that 
was  trying  to  protect  a  train  that  was  moving  toward  Rice's 
station,  as  if  Lee  had  still  some  hope  of  reaching  Danville. 


502  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Part  of  the  Sixth  at  once  joined  in  with  the  cavalry,  and 
together  they  drove  the  enemy  across  the  road  on  which  the 
train  had  been  moving,  capturing  artillery,  wagons  and 
prisoners. 

The  larger  part  of  the  Confederates  had  by  this  time 
passed  on  beyond  Sailor's  creek.  Sheridan  ordered  pursuit 
with  whatever  troops  were  at  hand.  The  cavalry  moved  to 
the  south  and  then  to  the  west  to  head  off  the  enemy,  while 
Wheaton  and  Keifer's  divisions  of  Wright's  corps  fol 
lowed  close  upon  the  rear.  The  cavalry  was  soon  engaged 
heading  off  the  enemy  and  turning  them  back.  At  the  same 
time  the  Confederates  had  to  face  about  and  fight  the 
infantry. 

Sailor's  creek  flows  toward  the  north  and  empties  into 
the  Appomattox.  Ewell  had  crossed  the  creek  and  was  well 
posted  on  high  ground.  The  creek,  swollen  so  that  it  over 
flowed  its  banks,  ran  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff.  East  of  the 
creek  was  a  wide,  low  bottom  land,  and  east  of  this  was 
high  ground.  Here  Wright  placed  his  artillery. 

Sheridan  ordered  an  immediate  assault.  Under  the 
cover  of  the  artillery  fire  the  infantry  moved  across  the  bot 
tom  land,  waded  the  stream,  which  was  so  high  that  the  men 
had  to  carry  their  guns  and  cartridge  boxes  above  their 
shoulders,  and  advanced  up  the  front  of  the  hill  on  which 
the  Confederate  infantry  was  posted. 

Ewell  had  placed  strong  lines  of  infantry  on  the  brow 
of  the  hill,  and  had  massed  his  reserve  infantry  behind  the 
center.  The  cavalry  was  waiting  on  his  right  and  rear. 

Forces  of  infantry  were  moving  to  the  right  and  left  of 
that  which  was  to  assault  the  front  and  center.  This  force, 
after  crossing  the  creek,  immediately  advanced  up  the  hill, 
and  at  short  range  attacked  the  enemy's  line  and  broke  it. 
But  here  Ewell  brought  forward  his  massed  infantry  and, 
himself  leading,  charged  upon  the  assaulting  force  with  such 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         503 

vigor  as  to  drive  it  back  across  the  creek  and  out  into  the 
bottom.  But  here  the  pursuing  force  became  exposed  to  the 
fire  of  the  artillery  on  the  high  ground,  and  the  assaults  of 
the  infantry  forces  that  were  now  on  their  flanks.  These 
flanking  forces,  paying  no  attention  to  the  center  that  had 
been  driven  back,  pushed  on  and  wheeled  inward  toward  the 
center.  Now  with  mighty  cheers  and  an  irresistible  mo 
mentum,  they  rushed  upon  the  Confederates  that  were  im 
paled  between  the  flanking  lines.  The  slaughter  was  terrific, 
A  few  were  bayoneted.  All  that  could,  tried  to  make  a 
break  to  the  westward.  But  to  the  westward  was  Custer's 
cavalry,  that  had  been  waiting  and  biding  their  time.  Their 
time  had  come.  The  First  New  York  had  the  choicest  posi 
tion  in  the  division — right  in  front  of  all  that  was  left  of 
EwelFs  corps,  the  men  that  were  breaking  away  from  the 
crash  of  the  flanking  forces  that  had  crushed  the  massed  in 
fantry  between  them.  The  cavalry  did  not  wait  for  the  en 
emy,  fleeing  from  the  fury  behind,  to  fall  into  their  hands. 
Never  before  had  they  been  more  in  the  spirit  of  fight. 
Never  before  had  they  swung  their  sabres  in  mightier  blows ; 
never  before  had  their  shouts  rung  out  louder,  as  they  rode 
among,  and  over,  and  through  the  disorganized  masses. 
Sergeant-major  Lumphreys'  leg  was  shattered  by  a  cannon 
shot.  He  was  helped  to  a  place  where  he  could  lean  against 
a  tree.  "Goon,  boys!  Never  mind  me,  go  on !"  Captain 
Savacool  captured  a  flag.  He  handed  it  to  one  of  his  men 
and  went  on.  He  captured  a  second  and  flung  it  to  another 
of  his  men.  Far  in  front  of  the  most  of  his  men,  who  were 
riding  hard  to  keep  up  with  him,  he  captured  a  third.  This 
he  was  waving,  shouting  exultingly,  when  he  was  struck  by 
a  bullet,  and  was  helpless.  But  the  fighting  was  over. 
Ewell  and  his  staff  surrendered  to  Captain  Sam  Stevens. 
The  regiment,  Capehart's  brigade  and  Custer's  whole  divis 
ion  never  did  more  heroic  work.  Thousands  of  prisoners 


504  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

were  gathered  in.  Giles,  Morris  and  Pitman,  immediately 
after  the  fighting-  was  over,  rode  in  front  of  a  Georgia  regi 
ment  that  had  three  flags,  and  demanded  the  flags.  They 
were  given  up.  Each  of  the  three  men  had  a  flag.  But  the 
color  sergeant  who  gave  his  flag  to  Giles  tore  it  to  pieces 
before  handing  it  over,  and  Giles  sat  up  most  of  the  night 
sewing  the  pieces  together. 

Ewell  and  six  other  major  generals,  and  all  their  men, 
with  all  that  they  had,  were  the  spoils  of  this  victory. 

The  next  morning,  as  many  of  the  captured  officers, 
including  Ewell  and  his  generals,  were  standing  in  a  group 
under  the  care  of  Major  Bailey,  provost  marshal,  whose 
manly  and  chivalric  ways  always  won  him  favor,  General 
Custer  passed  near  the  group  on  his  way  to  the  front  where 
there  was  yet  work  to  be  done.  As  he  noticed  the  dis 
tinguished  company,  and  such  it  was,  he  gracefully  raised 
his  hat  and  bowed.  The  staff  following  did  the  same.  This 
courteous  act  called  forth  a  responsive  act  as  one  of  the  Con 
federate  generals,  carried  away  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
occasion  proposed  three  cheers  for  the  dashing  general, 
whom  he  called  "the  very  embodiment  of  chivalry."  The 
cheers  were  given  with  a  will.  The  compliment  was  re 
turned  with  an  equal  heartiness.  And  Custer's  band,  that 
had  been  playing  "Bonnie  Dundee,"  changed  to  'The  Bon 
nie  Blue  Flag,"  and  Confederate  enthusiasm  was  unbounded. 

Captain  Hinton  and  a  detail  made  part  of  the  large 
force  that  was  to  conduct  the  prisoners  back  to  City  Point. 

General  Sheridan  in  his  official  report  says :  "The 
cavalry  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy  attacked  simultaneously 
with  the  infantry  in  the  front,  and  the  enemy,  after  a  gal 
lant  resistance  were  completely  surrounded,  and  nearly  all 
threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered.  General  Ewell, 
commanding  the  enemy's  forces,  and  six  other  general  offi 
cers,  and  about  10,000  other  prisoners,  were  taken  by  us. 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         505 

Most  of  them  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  cavalry,  but  they  are 
no  more  entitled  to  claim  them  than  the  Sixth  corps,  to  which 
equal  credit  is  due  for  the  result  of  this  engagement." 

This  is  considered  the  last  general  engagement  of  the 
war,  and  its  results  were  of  vast  importance.  Some  of  the 
officers  captured  expressed  the  opinion  that  there  was  no  use 
holding  out  any  longer.  This  was  reported  to  General 
Grant,  who  thereupon  sent  his  first  note  to  General  Lee, 
asking  the  surrender  of  his  army. 

All  parts  of  the  army  were  pushing  on  in  pursuit. 
Sheridan's  was  south  of  the  river  hurrying  on  to  a  point 
where  he  could  place  his  cavalry  square  across  the  road  by 
which  Lee  with  his  utmost  efforts  was  making  toward 
Lynchburg.  While  hurrying  on  with  the  hope  of  getting 
beyond  Lynchburg  into  the  mountains,  Lee  answered  Grant's 
second  note,  saying:  "To  be  frank,  I  do  not  think  the 
emergency  has  arisen  to  call  for  the  surrender  of  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia." 

What  remained  of  Lee's  army  was  north  of  the  Appo- 
mattox,  concentrated  along  the  stage  and  plank  roads  leading 
to  Lynchburg.  On  the  7th,  pursuing  forces  had  attacked  him 
in  two  of  his  entrenched  positions,  and  both  had  been  re 
pulsed.  There  was  fight  still  in  what  was  left  of  the  old 
army. 

After  the  repulse  of  the  second  of  these  attacks,  Lee 
received  the  note  that  Grant  had  sent,  asking  for  a  surrender. 
Lee's  reply  asking  terms  did  not  reach  Grant  till  the  morning 
of  the  8th.  In  the  meantime  he  was  pressing  on  in  his 
efforts  to  escape. 

Lee  succeeded  in  getting  his  army  across  the  river  at 
Farmville  that  night,  and  hoped  by  destroying  the  bridges 
to  check  further  pursuit.  Only  the  railroad  bridge  was 
burned.  Humphrey's  corps  was  so  close  in  pursuit  that  the 
wagon  bridge  was  saved.  Barlow's  division  crossed  and 


506  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

found  only  a  feeble  rear  guard,  and  two  redoubts  in  which 
were  left  eighteen  guns — left  because  the  horses  were  too 
exhausted  and  famished  to  draw  them  farther. 

The  night  of  the  6th,  Lee's  generals  held  a  council  at 
which  the  opinion  was  reached  that  further  resistance  was 
useless,  and  the  only  thing  left  \vas  to  surrender.  Lee  was 
not  present.  When  the  opinion  wras  made  known  to  him 
he  declined  to  consider  it. 

The  pursuit  was  relentless.  By  a  march  of  thirty 
miles,  Custer  in  the  advance  had  reached  Appomattox  sta 
tion  on  the  railroad  to  Lynchburg,  and  captured  four  trains 
of  cars  loaded  with  food  for  Lee's  starving  soldiers.  The 
advance  of  this  army  was  just  then  coming.  Custer  and 
Devin  drove  this  advance  back  toward  the  north  upon  the 
main  body,  capturing  twenty-five  guns,  a  hospital  train, 
many  wagons  and  prisoners. 

After  this  charge  the  regiment  with  others  advanced  in 
line  toward  the  left.  At  dusk  General  Custer,  passing  along 
the  left  of  the  regiment,  said :  "Boys,  I  want  a  few  volun 
teers  to  go  up  this  road  with  me  and  see  \vhere  that  battery 
is  firing  from."  Company  E  was  always  on  the  left.  Lieu 
tenant  Walter  said  to  Fiala:  "Fiala,  let  us  go.  We  may 
catch  a  flag  and  get  thirty  days'  furlough."  The  two 
stepped  out,  and  eight  others  followed.  Custer  and  these 
men  went  up  the  road  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  the  battery 
all  the  while  firing  upon  them  from  the  right.  They  passed 
the  line  of  the  firing  and  went  into  a  thicket,  where  the  trees 
were  so  close  together  the  men  could  not  pass  through.  As 
it  was  getting  dark  Custer  said :  "Boys,  try  to  get  back  the 
best  way  you  can.  WTe  cannot  get  through  here."  The 
thicket  was  in  range  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  it  was  here 
that  Lieutenant  Walter  was  shot. 

Fiala  was  trying  to  get  through  the  thicket.  When 
he  succeeded  he  came  upon  several  wagons  with  unhitched 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         507 

teams,  and  two  cannon.  As  he  looked  around  he  saw  a 
Confederate  coming  through  the  bushes.  He  held  him  up 
and  took  him  prisoner.  At  a  little  distance  another  man  on 
foot  came  out.  He  took  this  man  prisoner  also.  It  was 
now  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  and  quite  dark.  With 
his  two  prisoners  he  took  the  road  toward  his  own  lines. 
A  little  distance  farther  on  two  mounted  men  came  out  in 
front  of  him.  He  thought  it  was  no  time  to  lose  courage 
now.  He  hailed  them  and  made  them  surrender.  One  had 
a  sabre  and  a  revolver.  These  Fiala  took,  and  made  his 
prisoners  move  on,  one  by  one,  until  he  reached  the  picket. 
Here  he  ordered  the  mounted  men  to  dismount.  One  of 
them  remarked:  "Say,  Yank,  don't  you  take  us  for  a  set 
of  fools?"  He  laughed  and  replied:  "No,  I  think  you  are 
sure  of  your  head  to-night,  anyhow."  As  he  delivered  them 
to  the  officer  of  the  picket  the  latter  said :  "You  did  not 
capture  these  four  men  all  alone?"  He  replied  that  he  did, 
and  the  four  prisoners  gave  him  credit  for  as  much  as  it  was 
worth.  The  officer  asked:  "Sergeant,  to  what  regiment 
do  you  belong?"  "To  the  First  New  York  (Lincoln)  Cav 
alry."  "It  is  all  right.  Go,  join  your  troop." 

With  the  rest  of  the  men  of  the  company  Fiala  went  on 
picket.  About  midnight  he  heard  the  slow  approach  of  men. 
He  halted  them  and  called  for  the  countersign.  It  was  the 
advance  of  the  infantry.  A  whole  brigade  marched  as 
noiselessly  as  possible  past  the  post,  and  lay  down  on  the 
ground  with  their  guns  at  their  shoulders.  Toward  day 
break  the  pickets  were  drawn  in  and  returned  to  the  regiment. 

Just  before  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  Fiala  re 
ceived  a  lieutenant's  commission.  He  and  Lieutenant  Wal 
ter  were  fast  friends  from  the  start.  After  the  latter  was 
shot,  as  Fiala  related  it :  "I  gave  him  my  last  blanket.  He 
died  an  hour  after  being  shot.  The  last  words  I  heard  him 


508  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

speak  were — 'Let  us  capture  a  flag  and  get  thirty  day's  fur 
lough.'     He  received  a  furlough  that  lasted  forever." 

Lieutenant  Walter  was  for  a  long  time  sergeant-major. 
He  was  a  tall,  broad-shouldered,  sturdy  man,  a  good  soldier, 
and  a  reliable  man. 

He  was  the  last  officer  of  volunteer  cavalry  killed  in  the 
Virginia  army,  as  Lieutenant  Hidden  was  the  first,  not  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  as  stated  in  Chapter  IX.,  but  the 
first  in  the  campaign  of  1862,  in  front  of  Washington. 

At  daybreak  of  the  Qth,  the  Confederate  leaders,  Lee, 
Gordon  and  Longstreet,  as  they  looked  toward  Lynchburg, 
sawT  in  their  front  only  a  thin  line  of  dismounted  cavalry. 
Gordon  was  to  break  through  this  line.  His  soldiers  were 
weary  and  foot  sore  with  long  and  rapid  marching,  and 
weak  with  hunger.  Yet  they  moved  forward  with  the  same 
readiness  and  determination  that  in  better  times  they  had 
shown  on  a  hundred  fields.  They  saw  the  line  of  dismounted 
cavalry  fall  back  as  they  advanced. 

But  by  an  almost  unprecedented  all-night  march  the 
Army  of  the  James  had  arrived  at  Appomattox  Station. 
They,  too,  were  foot  sore  and  weary,  but  they  saw  the  end 
of  their  marching  and  fighting.  The  thin  line  of  dismounted 
cavalry  was  ordered  to  fall  back  slowly,  contesting  the 
ground  with  Gordon's  line,  until  the  infantry  could  move 
into  position.  Then  the  dismounted  cavalry  were  with 
drawn  to  the  right,  as  a  curtain  before  a  stage,  and  Gordon 
saw  before  him  a  solid,  heavy  line  of  infantry  with  muskets 
and  gleaming  bayonets.  The  cavalry  bugles  sounded  the 
call  to  remount.  The  men  were  on  their  horses,  writh 
gathered  reins  and  sabres  in  hand,  ready  to  break  in  a  sweep 
ing  charge  on  the  Confederate  flank. 

Gordon's  line  halted.  Those  men  could  never  break 
through  that  dense  firm  line  of  Union  infantry.  An  officer 
rode  out  in  front  of  the  enemy's  line,  with  a  piece  of  white 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         509 

cloth  raised  on  the  point  of  his  sword.  A  Union  officer 
meeting  him  said,  "We  have  no  authority  to  receive  a  flag 
of  truce,  unless  it  means  surrender."  "It  means  surrender." 

Scouts  had  reached  Appomattox  before  the  advance  of 
the  Union  army.  The  fences  had  been  down,  and  the  scouts 
had  for  days  been  riding  all  through  the  Confederate  army. 
When  the  truce  was  announced  one  of  these  was  passing 
General  Gordon  on  the  way  to  his  own  lines.  The  general 
stopped  him.  "Don't  you  know  you  are  liable  to  be  shot  if 
found  in  the  other  army  while  there  is  a  flag  of  truce  be 
tween  the  lines?"  Colonel  Moore  of  Sheridan's  staff  said: 
"He  is  one  of  our  men."  Gordon  asked,  "Then  why  is  he 
in  Confederate  uniform?"  The  colonel  replied:  "Oh,  we 
have  to  get  along  with  any  kind  of  clothing  we  can  get,  these 
times."  The  scout  went  on  to  where  Sheridan  was.  The 
general  berated  him  soundly  for  being  seen  there,  and  or 
dered  him  back  out  of  sight. 

While  the  two  great  generals  were  in  conference  in  the 
McLean  house,  the  antagonistic  armies  met  on  friendly 
terms.  The  Union  soldiers  shared  the  contents  of  their 
haversacks  with  their  half-starved  antagonists. 

Arrangements  were  made  for  turning  over  all  arms  and 
public  property  to  authorities  designated  to  receive  them. 
The  terms  of  the  conqueror  were  liberal.  All  were  free  to 
go  to  their  homes  on  parole.  The  officers  were  to  retain 
their  side  arms,  private  horses  and  baggage.  Enlisted  men 
could  take  home  their  private  horses  for  their  spring  plough 
ing.  These  generous  terms  were  appreciated,  and  the  vic 
tors  showed  the  utmost  consideration.  Grant  permitted  no 
firing  of  cannon  in  honor  of  the  victory. 

But  some  South  Carolina  cavalry  came  to  the  place  ap 
pointed  for  dismounting  and  giving  up  their  arms.  It  was 
with  ill  grace  they  came.  They  still  showed  something  of 
the  spirit  of  rebellion.  Their  manner  provoked  the  para- 


510  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

phrase  of  the  usual  form  of  the  order  for  dismounting, 
"At-ten-shun !  Pr-e-p-a-a-a-re  to  git  off  yer  critters; — Git!" 
Upon  declaring  that  they  were  not  subdued  they  were  met 
with  the  invitation  to  "come  out  one  side  into  the  open  and 
I'll  subdue  you,  or  you  will  me."  The  invitation  was  not 
accepted. 

Lee  published  an  order  to  the  men  of  his  army  com 
mending  them  for  their  faithful  performance  of  duty,  but 
without  a  suggestion  that  they  might  have  been  mistaken  in 
their  course,  or,  that  they  had  anything  to  regret  except  their 
failure  to  break  up  the  Union.  And  he  might  have  said  a 
word  acknowledging  the  liberal  terms  that  had  been  granted, 
and  advising  loyalty  to  the  old  government. 

All  the  details  of  the  surrender  having  been  attended  to, 
the  veterans  of  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia  started  for 
their  homes.  In  parts  of  companies,  in  squads  of  a  dozen, 
by  threes  and  twos  and  singly,  they  set  out  on  their  weary 
tramping.  In  most  cases  it  was  a  sad  return  to  their  former 
homes.  Their  homes  had  been  broken  up,  their  families 
scattered,  the  land  laid  waste. 

The  victorious  legions  took  up  their  line  of  march  to 
Petersburg  and  Richmond.  The  army  of  Sherman  had 
been  following  that  of  Johnston  up  through  the  Carolinas. 
The  cavalry  was  ordered  to  march  to  Sherman's  aid.  But 
Johnston  had  signified  his  willingness  to  surrender  on  the 
same  terms  that  had  been  granted  to  Lee,  and  the  cavalry 
returned. 

The  1 4th,  the  regiment  was  south  of  Petersburg.  This 
had  been  appointed  as  a  day  of  special  ceremony  in  Fort 
Sumter.  It  was  the  anniversary  of  the  day  on  which  Major 
Anderson  had  relinquished  the  fort,  saluted  his  flag  and 
sailed  to  the  North,  where  he  made  his  report  to  the  govern 
ment.  Now,  Major  General  Anderson  raised  the  same  flag 
that  he  had  hauled  down  four  years  before.  Henry  Ward 


APPOMATTOX  :     THE  DEATH  OF  LINCOLN.         511 

Beecher,  at  the  invitation  of  the  President,  gave  a  masterful 
discourse  reviewing  the  events^of  the  last  four  years,  so  full 
of  momentous  consequences. 

Colonel  McReynolds,  on  retiring  from  the  service,  had 
opened  a  law  office  in  Washington.  His  son,  Lieutenant  B. 
Frank  McReynolds,  who  had  been  discharged  the  previous 
January,  was  also  in  Washington,  and  on  the  evening  of  this 
same  I4th  of  April  was  a  witness  of  the  tragedy  of  that 
night. 

He  writes :  "I  was  in  Ford's  Theater  the  night  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  was  shot,  and  was  the  first  to  inform  Secretary 
Usher,  of  the  cabinet,  of  the  sad  occurrence. 

Lieutenant  Warren  and  wife  had  bought  tickets  with 
the  view  of  being  near  the  presidential  party.  They  invited 
me  to  go  with  them.  So  I  had  a  good  opportunity  of  seeing 
the  tragedy  which  unfortunately  was  too  real. 

Well  do  I  remember  seeing  Booth  in  the  President's 
box ;  hearing  the  shot ;  the  scream  of  the  other  occupants  of 
the  box;  seeing  Booth  as  he  jumped;  the  flashing  of  the 
polished  blade  of  steel  as  he  crossed  the  stage,  and  the  big 
form  of  Lawyer  Stewart  as  he  quickly  followed. 

Tragic  events  quickly  followed  one  another  in  those 
days.  When  I  look  back  it  seems  like  a  dream." 

There  had  been  some  remarkable  coincidences  connected 
with  this  war.  The  first  blood  was  shed  at  Baltimore,  on 
the  anniversary  of  Lexington,  eighty-six  years  before.  The 
surrender  of  Lee's  army  was  on  Palm  Sunday,  the  day  that 
commemorated  the  triumphal  entry  of  the  Savior  into  Jeru 
salem.  On  the  evening  of  Good  Friday,  that  commemorated 
the  crucifixion,  President  Lincoln  was  shot.  He  died  on 
the  morning  of  the  I5th,  four  years  from  the  day  on  which 
he  issued  his  first  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  men. 

The  effect  of  the  news  of  the  death  of  the  President 


512  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

cannot  be  described.  All  through  the  camps  there  was  un 
wonted  silence.  A  few  brief  expressions  of  sadness  over 
the  loss  to  the  nation  in  the  untimely  death  of  the  great, 
kind-hearted  man,  and  little  more  was  said.  Tears  were 
seen  on  the  bronzed  faces  of  stalwart  soldiers,  who  could 
ride  into  the  presence  of  death  without  a  tremor.  It  was  the 
saddest  day  in  camp  that  the  soldiers  had  ever  known.  It 
was  as  if  a  pall  had  been  let  down  upon  them. 

At  evening  dress  parade  bands  played  dirges  that  never 
seemed  so  sad  before.  Chaplains  and  others  spoke  to  peo 
ple  that  gathered  at  dress  parade  and  Sunday  services,  but 
all  inadequately.  But  there  was  consolation  in  the  thought 
that  he  had  lived  to  see  the  end  of  the  armed  rebellion, 

"Even  a  dream  is  from  the  Ruler  of  Heaven,"  sang 
Homer.  A  dream  had  been  sent  to  Lincoln  just  previous  to 
each  of  the  most  important  events  of  the  war.  The  same 
dream,  more  impressive  than  ever  before,  came  to  him  the 
night  before  his  assassination.  There  is  restfulness  in  the 
thought  that  it  came  as  a  premonition — a  sign — the  seal  of 
Heaven's  approval  upon  his  finished  work. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 
ANNANDALE. 

IMMEDIATELY  after  the  surrender  General  Custer  pub 
lished  the  following  address  to  his  division: 

HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  CAVALRY  DIVISION, 
APPOMATTOX  COURT  HOUSE,  VA.,  April  9,  1865. 

Soldiers  of  the  Third  Cavalry  Division: 

With  profound  gratitude  toward  the  God  of  battles,  by  whose 
blessings  our  enemies  have  been  humbled  and  our  arms  rendered  tri 
umphant,  your  commanding  general  avails  himself  of  this,  his  first 
opportunity,  to  express  to  you  his  admiration  of  the  heroic  manner  in 
which  you  have  passed  through  the  series  of  battles  which  to-day 
resulted  in  the  surrender  of  the  enemy's  entire  army. 

The  record  established  by  your  indomitable  courage  is  unparalleled 
in  the  annals  of  war.  Your  prowess  has  won  for  you  even  the  respect 
and  admiration  of  your  enemies.  During  the  past  six  months,  al 
though  in  most  instances  confronted  by  superior  numbers,  you  have 
captured  from  the  enemy,  in  open  battle,  one  hundred  and  eleven  pieces 
of  field  artillery,  sixty-five  battle  flags,  and  upwards  of  ten  thousand 
prisoners  of  war,  including  seven  general  officers.  Within  the  past 
ten  days,  and  included  in  the  above,  you  have  captured  forty-six  pieces 
of  field  artillery  and  thirty-seven  battle  flags.  You  have  never  lost  a 
gun,  never  lost  a  color,  and  have  never  been  defeated;  and  notwith 
standing  the  numerous  engagements  in  which  you  have  borne  a  prom 
inent  part,  including  those  memorable  battles  of  the  Shenandoah,  you 
have  captured  every  piece  of  artillery  which  the  enemy  has  dared  to 
open  upon  you.  The  near  approach  of  peace  renders  it  improbable  that 
you  will  again  be  called  upon  to  undergo  the  fatigues  of  the  toilsome 
march  or  the  exposure  of  the  battlefield;  but  should  the  assistance  of 
keen  blades,  wielded  by  your  sturdy  arms,  be  required  to  hasten  the 
coming  of  that  glorious  peace  for  which  we  have  been  so  long  contend- 

511 


514  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

ing,  the  general  commanding  is  proudly  confident  that,  in  the  future 
as  in  the  past,  every  demand  will  meet  with  a  hearty  and  willing 
response. 

Let  us  hope  that  our  work  is  done,  and  that,  blessed  with  the  com 
forts  of  peace,  we  may  be  permitted  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  home 
and  friends.  For  our  comrades  who  have  fallen  let  us  ever  cherish  a 
grateful  remembrance.  To  the  wounded,  and  to  those  who  languish  in 
Southern  prisons,  let  our  heartfelt  sympathy  be  tendered. 

And  now,  speaking  for  myself  alone,  when  the  war  is  ended  and 
the  task  of  the  historian  begins — when  those  deeds  of  daring,  which 
have  rendered  the  name  and  fame  of  the  Third  Cavalry  Division  im 
perishable,  are  inscribed  upon  the  bright  pages  of  our  country's  history, 
I  only  ask  that  my  name  may  be  written  as  that  of  the  commander  of  the 
Third  Cavalry  Division. 

G.  A.  CUSTER, 

Brevet  Major-General  Commanding. 
Official : 

L.  W.  BARN  HART, 

Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

After  a  few  days'  rest  at  Petersburg  the  division 
marched  to  Richmond.  The  city  was  relieved  from  the 
long  siege.  There  was  better  order  with  less  restraint  than 
since  the  war  began.  People  felt  secure,  and  free  from  fear 
of  an  alarm.  Even  those  who  had  been  most  bitter  against 
the  Union  army,  and  especially  against  the  colored  troops, 
felt  safe  under  their  protection.  The  late  Confederate  gen 
erals  returned  to  their  homes  in  the  city.  General  Gordon 
had  left  his  wife  confined  to  her  bed,  seriously  ill.  His  in 
tense  anxiety  on  her  account  was  relieved  when,  returning, 
he  found  her  home  protected  by  Union  guards  who  were 
gentlemen,  and  who  courteously  saluted  him  as  he  entered 
his  own  gate.  In  the  following  years  in  high  official  posi 
tions  he  was  loyal  to  the  Union. 

After  a  few  days'  march  the  division  reached  the  vicin 
ity  of  Alexandria.  The  largest  part  of  the  First  regiment 
had  been  under  Custer  all  the  way  to  Appomattox,  had  had 


ANNANDALE.  515 

a  hand  in  the  last  fight,  and  had  looked  on  at  Lee's  surrender. 
The  detachment  under  Martindale  had  come  from  Win 
chester.  A  few  who  had  been  in  Remount  Camp  in  Pleas 
ant  Valley  were  in  camp  at  Falls  Church.  The  scattered 
parts  were  within  visiting  distance  of  one  another.  Those 
who  had  been  released  from  prisons,  after  a  rest  in  hospitals 
or  their  homes,  for  weeks  little  better  than  skeletons,  had 
become  able  and  anxious  to  be  with  their  comrades  in  camp, 
and  as  they  came  they  were  heartily  welcomed. 

Many  who  had  been  on  detached  service  were  relieved 
from  such  duty  and  joined  the  regiment.  George  G.  Peavey 
had  been  peculiarly  adapted  for  orderly  and  scouting  duty. 
During  the  Peninsular  campaign  while  the  regiment  was 
with  McClellan,  he  had  been  kept  as  a  special  orderly  for 
McDowell.  And  during  the  last  campaign  he  had  been 
chief  of  scouts  for  General  Seward  at  Martinsburg. 

It  may  be  a  matter  of  interest  to  recall  the  once  familiar 
forms  of  orders  given  to  those  detailed  on  special  duty, 

HEADQUARTERS  U.  S.  FORCES, 
MARTINSBURG,   W.   VA.,   Oct.   7th,    1864. 

SPECIAL  ORDER, 

No.  10. 

************ 

Extract. 

VI.  The  following  named  enlisted  men  are  hereby  detailed  for 
duty  at  these  Hd.  Qrs.,  and  will  at  once  report  for  duty:  Sergt.  Geo. 
G.  Peavey,  Co.  B,  ist  N.  Y.  Cav.,  "as  scout." 

By  order  of 

Brig.  Gen.  SEWARD, 

E.  C.  WATKINS, 

A.  A.  G. 

Official  Copy. 

CHAS.  FASDECK, 

Lt.  and  A.  D.  C. 


516  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE,  THIRD  DIVISION, 

DEPARTMENT  OF  WEST  VIRGINIA. 

MARTINSBURG,  VA.,  April  24th,  1865. 
Guards,  Pickets,  and  Patrols: 

Pass  Sergeant  Geo.  G.  Peavey,  Chief  of  Scouts,  on  all  roads  at 
all  hours,  until  further  order. 

By  Order  of 

COL.  R.  E.  COOK, 

C.  C.  ILSLEY, 

A.  A.  A.  G. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE,  THIRD  DIVISION, 

DEPARTMENT   OF   WEST   VIRGINIA. 

MARTINSBURG,  W.  VA.,  April  i4th,  1865. 
ORDERS. 

Sergeant  Peavey,  Chief  of  Scouts  at  these  headquarters,  will  pro 
ceed  to  Haynsville  and  Sick  Mills,  and  inform  Mr.  Partrige  and 
John  French,  merchants,  that  if  they  sell  any  goods  to  farmers  south 
of  Martinsburg,  on  any  other  days  except  Mondays  and  Thursdays, 
their  stock  will  be  confiscated.  Orders  governing  trade  are  to  be 
observed  by  them  the  same  as  those  of  Martinsburg. 

By  Order  of 

COL.  R.  E.  COOK, 

C.  C.  ILSLEY, 

A.  A.  A.  G. 

MEDICAL  DIRECTOR'S  OFFICE, 

MARTINSBURG,  W.  VA.,  October  22d,  1864. 


SPECIAL  ORDERS, 
No.    101. 


4 Hospital  Steward  JOHN  H.  GARRISON,  ist  N.  Y.  (Lincoln) 

Cavalry,  with  twenty  (20)  nurses  will  report  to  Surg.  FRED'K  ELLIOTT, 
1st  N.  Y.  (Lincoln)  Cavalry,  to  proceed  to  Baltimore  with  train  of 
sick  and  wounded.  Having  performed  this  duty,  he  will  return  with 
the  nurses  and  report  to  this  office  for  further  orders. 

The  Q.  M.  Dept.  will  furnish  the  necessary  transportation. 

WILLIAM  HAYS, 

Surgeon  U.  S.  Vols., 

Act'g  Medical  Director, 

Dept.  of  West  Va, 
Hosp.  Steward  J.  H.  Garrison, 

First  New  York   (Lincoln)    Cavalry. 


ANNANDALE.  517 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY,  M.,  M.  D., 

May  20th,    1865. 
SPECIAL  ORDERS, 
No.  33. 

Hospital  Steward  John  Garrison  is  hereby  ordered  to  report  to 
Act'g  Staff  Surgeon,  FRED'K  ELLIOT,  in  Winchester,  Va.,  without  delay. 

The  Quartermaster's  Department  will  furnish  the  necessary  trans 
portation.  By  command  of 

MAJ.  GEN.  MERRITT, 

G.  W.  GORDON, 

Capt.  and  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Maj.  Rupell,  please  give  order  to  return  with  me. 

F.  ELLIOT. 

George  G.  Peavey  had  always  proved  himself  one  of 
the  pluckiest  fellows  in  the  regiment.  He  was  never  in 
better  spirits  than  when  he  was  watching  his  chance  to  get  a 
shot  at  a  rebel.  But  in  time  it  came  to  pass  that  he  encount 
ered  a  young  rebel  as  plucky  as  himself,  one  Susan  Van 
Vachten,  whose  pleasant  home  was  "down  on  the  Shenan- 
doah."  They  had  watched  the  signs  of  the  times,  and  when 
the  South  gave  up  Richmond  these  two  antagonists  came  to 
the  same  conclusion  that  Ewell  and  his  generals  came  to  at 
Sailor's  creek — that  there  was  no  use  in  trying  to  hold  out 
any  longer.  And  on  this  same  6th  of  April,  they  sealed  a 
sacred  and  lasting  truce.  Peavey  became  a  prosperous 
master  printer,  interested  and  active  in  the  association  and 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  was  chosen  as  one  of 
the  Guard  of  Honor  at  the  bier  of  General  Grant  when  the 
remains  of  the  dead  Chieftan  lay  in  state  in  the  Capitol  at 
Albany,  and  in  the  City  Hall,  New  York. 

Around  his  pleasant  home  in  Brooklyn  there  were  no 
"guards,  pickets  and  patrols"  to  keep  away  any  old  comrade. 
A  heartier  greeting  was  never  given  than  was  always  ex 
tended  by  this  gallant  "Chief  of  scouts"  and  his  amiable 


518  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

family  to  any  old  fellow  of  the  regiment  who  might  happen 
around. 

Without  warning,  on  the  loth  of  June,  1901,  he  was 
stricken  with  death.  At  his  funeral  four  prominent  or 
ganizations  attested  their  appreciation  of  his  worth.  But 
none  could  bear  witness  to  his  manly  character  more  sincerely 
than  his  comrades  of  the  First  cavalry. 

His  father,  George  W.  Peavey,  from  whom  the  son  had 
inherited  the  spirit  of  a  soldier,  for  his  faithful  service,  was 
rewarded  with  a  commission  in  the  Fifty-seventh  U.  S.  C.  T. 
He  was  a  man  of  unusual  vigor,  sincere  and  intense  in  his 
convictions. 

Another  who  had  been  discharged  the  year  before  to 
become  a  captain  in  the  U5th  U.  S.  C.  T.  was  Charles  P. 
Ives  of  Co.  H,  a  capital  young  fellow  and  an  active  soldier, 
who  was  one  of  the  unflinching  few  that  followed  Lieuten 
ant  Hidden  when  that  officer  rode  to  his  death  at  Sangster's 
station.  *  % 

Few  men  in  the  regiment  had  placed  upon  them  the 
necessity  of  doing  more  important  service  than  John  H. 
Garrison,  in  looking  after  the  welfare  of  the  thousands  of 
wounded.  A  hearty,  genuine  fellow  with  cheerful  presence 
and  an  abundance  of  good  nature  in  reserve;  he  was  helpful 
to  the  unfortunate  who  came  under  his  care.  In  civil  life 
he  became  prominent  on  the  cotton  exchange. 

Anthony  Fiala  had  been  well  taught  in  the  best  schools 
of  his  native  Bohemia.  After  his  efficient  service  he  re 
turned  to  his  occupation  as  a  skilled  worker  in  diamonds. 
He,  too,  was  one  of  the  "Guard  of  Honor"  at  the  bier  of 
General  Grant.  A  genial,  companionable  man,  fortunate  in 
all  his  relations,  at  his  death,  January  25,  1897,  he  was  sin 
cerely  lamented.  A  son  that  inherits  his  martial  spirit, 
served  through  the  recent  war  with  Spain,  published  an 


DR.    FREDERICK  ELLIOTT. 


JOHN   H.   GARRISON. 


GEORGE  S.  PEAVEY. 


LE   MOYNE  BLftUEIGH.. 


ANNANDALE.  519 

interesting  volume  of  experiences,  and  is  now  on  an  expedi 
tion  searching  for  the  North  pole. 

May  22,  the  united  detachments  crossed  the  Potomac 
and  marched  to  Bladensburg,  in  Maryland.  Here  all 
mounted  men  were  collected  preparatory  for  the  review  on 
the  following  day. 

The  morning  of  the  23 rd  was  bright,  cool  and  breezy. 
The  various  organizations  moved  early  and  waited  in  the 
grounds  around  the  capitol  to  take  their  places  in  the  line  of 
march. 

Glister's  division  headed  the  column.  The  men  wore  a 
strip  of  scarlet  cloth  passing  around  the  neck  or  tied  to  the 
collar,  the  badge  of  the  division.  Pennnsylvania  avenue 
was  lined  with  people.  They  crowded  the  sidewalks;  they 
filled  the  windows  and  the  roofs.  The  buildings  were  bril 
liant  with  decorations,  flags  and  streamers. 

The  regiment,  commanded  by  Major  Martindale,  was 
the  first  in  the  Third  brigade.  The  marching  lines  reached 
from  sidewalk  to  sidewalk.  Each  set  of  colors  was  greeted 
with  cheers  all  along  the  grand  avenue.  As  the  colors  of 
the  regiment  turned  to  the  right  at  the  Treasury  building 
the  tattered,  bullet-rent  flags  attracted  the  special  attention  of 
an  enthusiastic  man,  who  called  for  "Three  cheers  for  that 
flag!"  The  vast  multitudes  that  crowded  the  broad  steps 
and  the  grounds  in  front,  responded  with  cheers  that  shook 
the  air.  It  was  the  worst  looking  flag  that  had  yet  passed 
in  the  column.  Three  bullets  had  struck  it  at  Sailor's  creek. 
In  that  fight  the  bearer  of  the  colors,  Sergeant  Edward  Giles, 
had  been  three  times  wounded,  though  slightly ;  other  bullets 
had  pierced  his  clothing,  and  his  horse  was  killed,  yet  he 
kept  hold  of  the  flag,  and  he  was  carrying  it  now. 

The  column  passed  in  front  of  the  White  House  and 
the  reviewing  stand.  On  this  stand  were  the  rulers  of  the 
nation,  the  representatives  of  the  people,  the  ministers  of 


520  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

other  countries,  the  generals  of  the  army,  and  the  high  offi 
cers  of  the  navy.  An  assemblage  of  more  men  illustrious  in 
the  nation's  history,  had  not  been  seen.  But  the  greatest 
man  of  the  period,  the  man  who  for  four  years  had  borne 
the  heaviest  responsibility  committed  to  any  man  in  the  cen 
tury,  whom  the  soldiers  in  the  passing  ranks  would  have 
most  cared  to  see,  the  man  who  had  kept  his  oath  to  save 
the  Union — was  not  there.  The  greatest  statesman  of 
modern  times,  like  the  greatest  statesman  of  ancient  times, 
had  led  his  people  to  the  border  land  of  peace.  He  was 
permitted,  from  the  heights  of  duty  done,  to  look  at  the 
prospect — and  was  called  away. 

These  marching  legions  formed  something  more  than  a 
mere  spectacular  display. 

'Twere   worth  ten  years   of  peaceful   life, 
One  glance  at  that  array. 

They  represented  the  ability  of  a  republic  to  maintain 
its  own  integrity. 

After  the  review  the  various  corps  marched  back  to 
Bladensburg.  The  next  day  Sherman's  army  was  in  like 
manner  reviewed.  A  peculiar  feature  was  the  procession  of 
bummers  following  each  organization — foragers  on  all  sorts 
of  mounts,  in  all  sorts  of  apparel,  and  with  all  sorts  of  for 
aged  possessions. 

Colonel  Capehart  had  been  made  a  brigadier  general  for 
services  in  the  pursuit  of  Lee,  but  after  receiving  his  appoint 
ment  had  resigned.  Colonel  Adams  was  now  commanding 
the  brigade  and  Lieut.  Col.  Battersby  was  commanding  the 
regiment.  Captain  Hinton,  who  had  been  at  City  Point  in 
charge  of  prisoners,  was  now  returned. 

The  29th,  the  regiment  marched  through  the  city,  across 
Long  Bridge,  through  Alexandria,  and  four  or  five  miles  out 
on  the  pike  to  Annandale,  a  high,  convenient  camping 
ground. 


ANNANDALE.  521 

The  experiences  of  four  years  naturally  had  made  men 
wiser  and  less  excitable  than  in  the  early  part  of  their  career. 
At  first  it  was  something  worth  mentioning  to  have  seen, 
while  on  picket,  a  Confederate  in  the  distance.  And  there 
was  now  and  then  one  who,  like  Caesar's  lieutenant,  was 
suspected  of  having  reported  "as  seen  that  which  he  had  not 
seen — the  top  of  a  mountain  full  of  enemies."  This  loca 
tion  of  the  camp  was  the  scene  of  an  exploit  in  the  early  ex 
perience  of  the  regiment. 

In  December,  1861,  the  present  colonel,  then  a  major, 
had  gone  out  with  his  battalion.  He  had  led  his  men  with 
drawn  sabres  on  a  ringing  charge  through  the  little  place 
of  a  half  a  dozen  houses.  He  arrested  a  few  old  residents, 
and  hearing  that  there  was  an  armed  force  of  an  indefinite 
number,  at  an  indefinite  distance  beyond,  he  sent  a  swift 
courier  back  to  General  Kearney  to  report  that  he  had  cap 
tured  the  place,  and  if  he  only  had  re-enforcements  he  could 
hold  it,  or  retiring  draw  the  pursuing  enemy  into  an  am 
bush.  Thinking  from  this  report  that  the  situation  was  seri 
ous,  the  general  sent  the  following  note: 

HEADQUARTERS  N.  J.  VOLUNTEERS, 

Near  4  p.m. 
To  Colonel  McReynolds 

or  Senior  Officer  Lincoln  Horse: 

SIR — Send  at  once  two  squadrons  (gait  eight  miles  an  hour)  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Annandale,  with  these  instructions  to  Major  Adams: 
To  beat  the  enemy  or  draw  him  under  our  infantry  fire,  and  charge 
him  home  "instanter"  on  the  ambush  fire. 

Respectfully, 

P.  KEARNEY. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Schickfuss  immediately  started  out 
with  a  squadron,  but  met  the  major  returning  with  the  squad 
of  prisoners,  having  left  behind  an  unknown  number  sup 
posed  to  be  disabled  in  his  ambush.  The  regiment  had 
waited  anxiously  for  the  return  of  the  battalion,  and  now 


522  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

with  loud  cheers  greeted  their  coming.  But  it  was  found 
that  the  less  than  a  dozen  prisoners — "these  nine  in 
buckram  that  I  told  thee  of" — were  loyal  citizens,  non-com 
batants,  who  had  been  given  protection  papers,  and  who 
were  now  allowed  to  go  home  with  an  apology  for  the  incon 
venience  to  which  they  had  been  subjected. 

There  were  times  when  the  major  thought  it  the  proper 
thing  to  call  to  pay  his  respects  to  the  division  commander 
and  his  staff.  Here  were  some  facetious  officers  who  never 
failed  to  call  upon  the  major  for  the  diverting  account  of 
"The  Battle  of  Annandale."  The  portly  major  would  push 
his  fingers  upward  through  his  bushy  hair  and  assure  his 
interested  listeners  that  his  strategic  plans  on  that  occasion 
had  been  laid  according  to  the  principles  of  the  science  of 
w7ar.  "If  the  enemy  did  not  fall  into  the  ambush  I  had  laid 
for  them,  gentlemen,  it  was  not  my  fault,  gentlemen.  I 
had  done  my  part,  gentlemen,  and  was  prepared  for  them, 
if  they  had  come." 

This  Gadshill  episode  was  long  the  subject  of  amuse 
ment  at  the  major's  expense.  But  at  Nineveh  and  on  other 
fields  he  had  redeemed  some  of  his  early  blunders  and  won 
credit  for  courageous  fighting.  He  was  good  natured,  and 
could  now  afford  to  enjoy  the  old  joke  on  himself  as  well  as 
others,  until  his  ample  sides  and  front  would  shake  with 
laughter.  One  thing  he  could  claim  that  some  others  could 
not,  that  he  had  never  made  a  mistake  that  had  brought 
serious  disaster  to  his  men. 

Major  Bailey  was  for  years  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  lumber  in  North  Carolina.  But  finally  he  returned  to 
New  York,  and  in  his  leisure  contributed  military  remin 
iscences  to  the  press.  He  had  died,  an  honored  member  of 
the  association. 

Hinton  and  New  held  responsible  and  permanent  posi 
tions  in  the  New  York  Custom  House.  Fred  Hotchkiss  has 


ANNANDALE.  523 

become  largely  interested  in  irrigating  the  plains  of  South 
ern  California.  Valentine  is  a  prosperous  commission  mer 
chant  at  262  Washington  St.,  New  York.  Clark  Stanton 
became  connected  with  the  pension  bureau,  and  Charles  N. 
Warren  held  a  position  in  the  government  printing  office  at 
Washington.  Rork  became  manager  of  the  Chickering 
piano  establishment,  in  Boston.  Joseph  Poulitzer  became 
proprietor  of  the  New  York  World  newspaper.  John  F. 
Kent  found  a  home  in  Minnesota.  Charles  P.  Henry  be 
came  a  respected  and  trusted  resident  of  Milwaukee,  the 
only  man  of  the  regiment  in  the  state  except  the  writer. 

One  whose  work  has  been  and  will  be  especially  valuable 
to  the  student  and  writer  of  history  is  Henry  C.  Koch,  a 
leading  architect  of  Milwaukee.  He  was  with  Sheridan  as 
topographical  engineer,  from  1862  till  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  The  most  of  the  maps  of  Sheridan's  battlefields,  to 
which  it  has  been  necessary  to  refer  often,  were  made  by 
Comrade  Koch. 

In  1898  the  writer  was  entertained  for  several  days  by 
Comrade  Besley  and  his  pleasant  family,  at  Ashgrove,  near 
Falls  Church.  The  two  rode  around  the  wide  semicircle  of 
the  outer  fortifications,  from  Fort  Buffalo  on  the  north  to 
Fort  Lyon  on  the  south.  Some  of  the  works  had  remained 
unchanged  except  by  rain  and  frost.  Some  were  covered 
with  bushes  and  young  trees.  Camp  Kearney  was  a  goat 
pasture.  The  old  headquarters  house  was  going  to  ruin. 
The  walls  were  standing,  but  the  windows  were  gone  and 
the  doors  were  broken  down.  The  basement  where  the  offi 
cers'  mess  had  feasted,  was  now  the  stable  of  the  four- 
footed  creatures  of  the  pasture  field. 

The  fields  of  the  reviews  under  McClellan  had  been  re 
claimed  from  the  effects  of  war.  Some  of  the  old  waste 
places  were  the  sites  of  pleasant  and  thrifty  villages.  Lin- 
colnia  was  the  modern  post-office  name  of  Annandale. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 
MUSTERED  OUT. 

ORDERS  were  received  to  make  out  rolls  of  officers  and 
men,  and  reports  of  property,  preparatory  to  being 
mustered  out.  The  scattered  service  of  the  regiment  had 
rendered  it  impossible  to  keep  all  records  absolutely  correct. 
As  nearly  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  the  officers  at  this  date 
were  as  follows : 

ROSTER  OF  OFFICERS. 

Colonel — A  W.  ADAMS. 

Lieutenant  Colonel — J.  C.  BATTERSBY. 

Majors — E.  H.  BAILEY. 

F.  G.  MARTINDALE. 

FRANCIS  PASSEGGER. 
Surgeon — ABRAM  WELCH. 
Assistant  Surgeon — T.  D.  POWELL. 
Adjutant — WM.  H.  BEACH. 
Quartermaster — JOHN   NEWTH. 
Commissary — HORACE  B.  ADAMS. 
Chaplain— Wit.   W.   McNAiR. 

COMPANY  A.  COMPANY  C. 

Captain— -Wm.  Alexander.  Captain— Samuel  Stevens. 

First  Lieut.— Augustus  Delaney.  First  Lieut.— Lemuel  Evans. 
Second  Lieut.— Valentine  Mack.  COMPANY  D. 

COMPANY  B.  Captain— Franldm  McConnaughy. 
Captain — A.  Chalmers  Hinton.  COMPANY  E. 

First  Lieut.— Robert  E.  Clarke.  Captain— Frederick  Daber. 

Second  Lieut. — Albert  A.  Foye.  Second  Lieut. — Louis  Kneif. 

524 


MUSTERED  OUT.  525 

COMPANY  F.  COMPANY  K. 

Captain—  John  J.   O'Brien.  Captain-Edwin  F.   Savacool. 

Second  Lieut.—  Charles  Weber.  Second  Lieut.—  join  R.  Norton. 

COMPANY  G. 

0          .   ,  .  T-,  ,        .XT  COMPANY  L. 

Second  Lieut.  —  Edw.  A.  New. 

COMPANY  H.  F?st  ""'-Milton  Cafferty. 
L««*.-V.  F.  Farnsworth. 


Second  Lieut.  —  S.  I.  Barber.  COMPANY  M. 

COMPANY  I.  First   Lieut.—  Fred    E.    Hotchkiss. 

Captain—].  D.  Kryniski.  Second  Lieut.—  Edward  Lake. 

Some  of  the  companies  were  below  the  minimum  neces- 
saryto  entitle  them  to  their  full  quota  of  officers.  Promotions 
were  made  to  fill  all  vacancies.  Commissions  did  not  in  all 
cases  reach  those  who  had  been  recommended  for  promo 
tion  until  after  the  regiment  was  discharged.  To  an  in 
quiry  addressed  to  the  war  department  relative  to  the  stand 
ing  of  these  men,  the  following  reply  was  given  under  date 
of  September  23,  1901  : 

"Under  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  Congress  approved 
February  24,  1897,  sucn  men  are  neld  and  considered  by 
this  Department  to  have  been  mustered  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States  in  the  grades  to  which  they  were  commis 
sioned,  to  take  effect  from  the  date  from  which  they  were 
to  rank." 

In  the  roll  of  the  regiment  these  men  are  reported  ac 
cording  to  this  decision  of  the  war  department. 

There  were  necessary  frequent  visits  to  the  offices  in 
Washington  on  errands  of  many  kinds.  On  one  of  these 
visits,  June  3rd,  a  call  was  made  at  the  Armory  Square 
Hospital  to  see  Captain  Savacool.  He  had  died  the  previ 
ous  night.  After  he  was  wounded  at  Sailor's  creek  he  was 
taken  to  the  hospital  at  City  Point.  Here  General  Sheridan 
frequently  called  to  see  him,  and  encouraged  him  with  the 
prospect  of  the  bright  career  before  him  when  he  should 
recover  from  his  wound.  But  it  was  a  grievous  wound. 


526  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

The  fatal  bullet  had  reached  a  spot  where  it  could  not  be 
reached.  Surgical  skill  could  not  save  him.  His  remains 
were  taken  to  his  home  at  Marshall,  Mich.,  where  the  peo 
ple  paid  special  honors  to  his  memory.  At  a  later  date  the 
officers  adopted  the  resolutions  following,  which,  with  a  brief 
sketch  of  his  career,  were  published  in  the  leading  papers  of 
his  state : 

CAPTAIN    EDWIN    F.    SAVACOOL. 

Captain  Edwin  F.  Savacool  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  first  one 
hundred  cavalry  that  left  this  state,  and  was  transferred  to  the  New 
York  Lincoln  Cavalry.  He  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  in  1864  for 
his  daring  conduct  in  capturing  the  notorious  Blackford,  and  for  other 
daring  deeds  was  soon  promoted  to  a  captaincy.  He  brought  into 
camp,  in  two  years  and  five  months,  single-handed,  seventy-two  pris 
oners.  Within  five  months  he  had  five  horses  shot  under  him.  On 
the  day  before  he  was  wounded  the  horse  which  he  rode  received  seven 
balls.  He  was  shot  during  the  severe  fight  at  Sailor's  Creek,  where 
Ewell  was  taken,  while  he  was  capturing  a  battle  flag. 

The  regiment  to  which  he  belonged  was  itself  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  for  its  gallantry  and  valor.  At  Sailor's  Creek,  his  brigade 
captured  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  one  thousand  five  hundred  prisoners, 
fourteen  battle  flags,  (one  of  which  he  took  himself  when  he  received 
his  death  wound)  seven  major-generals,  also  one  hundred  wagons.  As 
related  by  one  present,  "with  a  degree  of  impetuosity  seldom  equaled, 
and  a  bravery  equal  to  that  of  the  Spartan  Band,  this  brigade  charged 
and  carried  the  enemy's  works,  defended  by  two  lines  of  infantry.  In 
the  great  charges  of  the  war,  but  few,  if  any  have  been  more  brilliant." 
To  have  belonged  to  such  a  brigade  was  sufficient  glory,  but  to  have 
been  honored  by  it,  as  Captain  Savacool  was,  is  to  reach  the  height  of 
all  ambition. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  in  camp  near  Annan- 
dale,  Va.,  June  25th,  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted : 

ist.  That  it  has  been  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  sorrow  that  we 
have  learned  of  the  death  of  our  comrade  and  brother  officer,  Captain 
Edwin  F.  Savacool. 

2d.  That  during  his  connection  with  this  regiment  since  its  first 
organization,  in  1861,  whether  as  private,  sergeant,  lieutenant,  or  captain, 
he  has  always  done  his  whole  duty  as  a  soldier;  having,  while  a  ser 
geant,  and  detailed  for  the  dangerous  and  most  important  service  of  a 
scout,  captured,  in  person,  more  than  seventy  prisoners;  that  as  an 


MUSTERED  OUT.  527 

officer,  he  was  always  foremost  in  every  action,  inspiring  his  men  with 
an  enthusiasm  to  follow  where  it  was  possible  for  soldiers  to  go,  and 
having,  in  a  desperate  charge,  captured  a  rebel  battle  flag,  which  he 
was  waving  in  boyish  glee,  just  as  he  received  his  mortal  wound. 

3d.  That  in  his  simplicity,  manliness  and  straightforwardness ;  in 
his  discreet  but  fearless  bravery,  that  won  for  him  the  admiration  even 
of  his  enemies ;  in  his  large  heart  with  an  intense  hatred  of  the  rebel 
lion,  yet  so  full  of  generous  impulses  and  fervent  love  of  country,  we 
recognize  the  character  of  a  true  hero  and  patriot. 

4th.  That  in  his  death  the  Republic  has  lost  one  of  its  bravest 
defenders  and  truest  citizens,  who  fell  a  martyr  to  the  cause  of  Free 
dom,  just  at  the  coming  of  the  righteous  peace  for  which  he  had  so 
long  and  so  bravely  fought. 

5th.  That  while  we  tender  to  the  relatives  of  the  heroic  dead  our 
sincere  sympathy  in  their  bereavement,  we  rejoice  with  them  that  he 
lived  to  see  the  complete  triumph  of  the  cause  to  which  he  had  not  in 
vain  given  his  life. 

6th.  That  these  resolutions  be  published  in  the  New  York  Herald 
and  Michigan  papers,  and  a  copy  be  transmitted  to  the  relatives  of  the 
deceased. 

F.  G.  MARTINDALE, 
Major  ist  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  Chairman. 

WM.  H.  BEACH, 

ist  Lieut.  Co.  F,  Adjt.,  Secretary. 

June  4th,  General  Grant  published  these  General  Orders 
to  all  the  armies. 

Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States: 

B}r  your  patriotic  devotion  to  your  country  in  the  hour  of  danger 
and  alarm,  and  your  magnificent  fighting,  bravery  and  endurance,  you 
have  maintained  the  supremacy  of  the  Union  and  the  Constitution,  over 
thrown  all  armed  opposition  to  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  and  of  the 
proclamation  forever  abolishing  slavery,  the  cause  and  pretext  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  opened  the  way  to  the  rightful  authorities  to  restore 
order  and  inaugurate  peace  on  a  permanent  and  enduring  basis,  on 
every  foot  of  American  soil.  Your  marches,  sieges  and  battles,  in 
distance,  duration,  resolution  and  brilliancy  of  results,  dim  the  lustre 
of  the  world's  past  military  achievements,  and  will  be  the  patriot's 
precedent  in  defence  of  liberty  and  right  in  all  time  to  come.  In 
obedience  to  your  country's  call,  you  left  your  homes  and  families,  and 
volunteered  in  her  defence.  Victory  has  crowned  your  valor,  and 
secured  the  purpose  of  your  patriotic  hearts;  and,  with  the  gratitude 


528  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

of  your  countrymen,  and  the  highest  honors  a  great  and  free  nation 
can  accord,  you  will  soon  be  permitted  to  return  to  your  homes  and 
families,  conscious  of  having  discharged  the  highest  duty  of  American 
citizens.  To  achieve  these  glorious  triumphs,  and  secure  to  yourselves, 
your  fellow-countrymen  and  posterity,  the  blessings  of  free  institutions, 
tens  of  thousands  of  your  gallant  comrades  have  fallen,  and  sealed  the 
priceless  legacy  with  their  blood.  The  graves  of  these,  a  grateful  nation 
bedews  with  tears.  It  honors  their  memories,  and  will  ever  cherish 
and  support  their  stricken  families. 

(Signed)  U.  S.  GRANT. 

June  5,  camp  was  moved  to  Cloud's  Mills,  two  miles 
nearer  Alexandria.  There  were  reports  to  the  effect  that  the 
regiment  was  to  be  sent  to  Kentucky,  possibly  on  the  way 
to  Mexico,  to  compel  the  emperor  of  the  French  to  cease 
interfering  with  the  affairs  of  that  country — to  maintain  the 
Monroe  Doctrine. 

The  7th,  the  regiment  moved  by  way  of  Bailey's  Cross 
Roads  to  the  vicinity  of  Long  Bridge,  and  encamped  on  the 
plain  below  the  hill.  Renewed  acquaintance  with  localities 
well  known  in  the  winter  of  '61-62.  The  8th,  crossed  over 
to  Washington,  then  back  to  Fort  Albany,  and  marched  again 
to  Annandale,  where  orders  were  finally  received  for  the 
muster-out  of  the  regiment.  It  took  time  to  complete  the 
rolls  and  bring  the  records  up  to  date. 

The  23rd  and  24th,  the  adjutant  was  enabled  to  make 
the  completed  returns  of  the  regiment  to  the  proper  depart 
ment,  and  receive  his  certificates  of  non-indebtedness — a 
mighty  relief  after  having  worked  almost  day  and  night  to 
get  the  reports  correctly  made.  Horses  and  all  public  prop 
erty  were  to  be  turned  over  to  the  quartermaster  department. 

The  last  night  in  camp  was  celebrated  with  bonfires  and 
exultant  demonstrations. 

Orders  for  transportation  were  obtained,  and  en  the 
morning  of  Monday,  June  26,  the  regiment  broke  camp, 
marched  to  the  nearest  railroad  station,  and  were  soon  leav- 


MUSTERED  OUT.  529 

ing  the  sacred  soil  of  redeemed  Virginia.  Delayed  in  Wash 
ington  by  having  to  unload,  march  to  the  other  depot,  and 
load  on  another  train.  It  was  almost  dark  when  we  finally 
moved  out  of  Washington.  Again  in  the  night  we  had  to 
change  cars,  and  march  through  Baltimore.  Again,  the 
27th,  we  had  to  march  through  Philadelphia,  stopping  to 
eat  an  abundant  dinner  at  the  Union  Refreshment  Rooms. 
At  night  we  arrived  at  New  York. 

The  following  is  from  the  New  York  Times  of  the 


The  First  New  York  (Lincoln  Cavalry  arrived  yesterday  morning, 
and  proceeded  to  the  State  Agency  Rooms,  Eighth  Regiment  Armory, 
where  a  splendid  dinner  was  prepared  for  the  command  by  Colonel 
Colyer,  the  New  York  State  Agent.  The  regiment  being  expected  on 
Tuesday  night,  liberal  provision  was  made  for  the  reception  at  the 
Agency.  The  ladies  had  prepared  an  elegant  dinner  for  them,  loading 
the  tables  with  fruits  and  flowers,  and  Colonel  Colyer  had  Robertson's 
band  of  thirty  pieces  waiting  at  the  Battery  at  five  o'clock.  But  this 
gallant  regiment  —  one  of  the  pets  of  New  York  —  did  not  arrive,  owing 
to  some  delay  in  the  trains.  A  regiment  of  cavalry  was  also  in 
waiting  to  escort  the  command  from  the  Battery,  but  that  part  of  the 
programme  was  omitted  when  the  regiment  did  finally  arrive. 

Marching  up  Broadway,  the  Lincoln  Cavalry  was  received  with 
heartiness  by  those  witnessing  their  progress  up  town,  and  the  veteran 
organization  was  noticed  and  recognized  as  their  fame  merited. 

After  enjoying  a  substantial  dinner  provided  by  the  State  Agency, 
and  a  bountiful  supply  of  ripe  fruit,  Colonel  Colyer,  on  behalf  of  Gov 
ernor  Fenton,  who  had  so  desired,  in  a  neat  and  telling  speech,  set 
forth  the  earnest  wrishes  of  the  Governor  of  New  York  to  render  to  all 
returning  regiments  of  New  York  a  fitting  reception.  In  response  to 
the  speech  of  Colonel  Colyer,  Colonel  A.  W.  Adams,  commanding  the 
Lincoln  Cavalry,  replied  as  follows  : 

SPEECH    OF    COLONEL    ADAMS. 

HONORED  SIR  :  As  Colonel  commanding  the  First  Regiment  of 
New  York  Cavalry,  now  about  to  leave  the  national  service,  I  feel 
oppressed  with  a  sense  of  gratitude  for  the  flattering  reception  we  have 
received  upon  reaching  "home,  sweet  home,"  after  four  years  of  ardu 
ous  service  in  sustaining  the  institutions  of  our  beloved  country.  Per 
mit  me,  honored  sir,  to  say  for  myself,  and  the  brave  officers  and  men 
whom  it  has  been  my  privilege  and  honor  to  command,  that  this  is  the 
"day  of  days"  of  our  weary  pilgrimage,  and  that  it  will  ever  be  to  us 


530  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

the  "greenest  spot  in  memory's  waste."  Not  the  less  do  we  prize  this 
generous  reception  because  it  is  given  in  the  name  and  by  authority  of 
His  Excellency,  Reuben  E.  Fenton,  our  honored  and  patriotic  Gover 
nor—the  true  friend  of  the  soldier  and  the  Union.  Your  kindness  will 
be  enbalmed  in  our  hearts,  and  consecrated  in  our  affections. 

The  commendation,  the  hearty  greeting  of  friends  at  home,  with 
"well  done,  good  and  faithful  servants,"  is  not  only  cheering  to  the 
soldier's  heart,  but  we  receive  them  as  ample  compensation  for  all  the 
sufferings  and  trials  through  which  we  have  passed.  It  will,  I  trust, 
be  no  departure  from  modesty — one  of  the  cardinal  qualities  of  the 
true  soldier — to  say  that  the  First  New  York  Cavalry  was  the  first  regi 
ment  of  that  arm  of  the  public  service  that  voluntarily  came  to  the 
rescue  of  our  imperiled  institutions,  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion.  We  asked  no  "bounties,"  we  demanded  no  sordid  gain,  but 
made  a  free  offering  of  our  services,  our  lives,  and  our  honor  in  support 
of  the  supremacy  and  majesty  of  the  starry  flag  of  the  republic. 

I  cannot,  in  detail,  recapitulate  the  services  of  this  regiment,  but  the 
impartial  historian  will  record  that  it  met  the  foe  in  many  of  the 
bloodiest  conflicts  of  the  war,  as  that  (pointing  to  the  old  regimental 
colors)  honored,  dearly  prized,  mutilated  and  tattered  flag  will  testify 
— and  that  it  was  always  prompt  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty,  in  the 
camp,  on  the  march,  on  picket  and  on  "fields  of  crimson  gore." 
Many  of  the  gallant  officers,  and  hundreds  of  the  brave  men  of  this 
regiment  have  fallen  victims  to  their  devotion  and  valor,  and  sleep 
sweetly,  I  trust,  in  their  honored  graves,  upon  Southern  soil.  We  ask 
of  the  friends  of  the  American  Union,  to  drop  a  tear  to  their  memory. 

The  war  is  happily  at  an  end.  The  supremacy  of  the  government 
has  been  maintained,  and  as  a  nation  we  are  about  to  enter  upon  a  new 
career  of  honor,  prosperity  and  glory!  Gratitude  should  be  engraven 
upon  our  "heart  of  hearts,"  to  the  giver  of  all  good  for  His  distinguished 
mercies  in  vouchsafing  to  us  the  preservation — unimpaired — of  our  free 
institutions.  Myself,  and  my  brother  officers  and  men,  about  to  sever 
our  connection,  as  soldiers,  with  the  National  Government  will  soon 
resume  our  peaceful  avocations.  We  return  not  among  you  with 
wealth ;  but,  I  trust,  not  without  honor.  In  the  language  of  the  Scot- 

For    gold    the   merchant   plows   the   main, 

The  farmer  plows  the  manor, 
But  glory  is  the  soldier's  prize, 

The  soldier's  wealth  is  honor ! 

The  surviving  officers  and  men  of  the  First  Regiment  of  New  York 
Cavalry  are  not  politicians;  but  they  love  our  free  institutions  and 
they  have  not  been  wholly  unobservant  of,  or  indifferent  to,  the  deep 
duplicity  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  designs  and  intrigues  of  the  Em- 


MUSTERED  OUT.  531 

peror  of  the  French,  during  our  late  struggle  with  rebellion.  We  labor 
under  the  conviction,  sir,  that  the  doctrine  of  the  fifth  President  of 
the  United  States,  the  illustrious  JAMES  MONROE,  in  regard  to  crowned 
heads  ruling  on  any  portion  of  our  continent,  is  wise,  statesmanlike 
and  patriotic;  and  should  our  government  ever  call  upon  the  sons  of 
the  land  to  maintain  this  doctrine,  I  hazard  nothing  in  saying  that  the 
officers  and  men  of  this  veteran  regiment  would  as  cheerfully  and 
promptly  respond  to  such  a  call  as  they  did  to  the  reverberating  report 
from  the  first  gun  fired  at  Stimter  in  1861. 

Fortunately  for  the  country,  all  have  implicit  confidence  in  the  wis 
dom,  patriotism,  valor  and  determination  of  ANDREW  JOHNSON,  the 
successor  of  the  martyred  and  lamented  LINCOLN. 

To  him  and  to  his  patriotic  Cabinet — a  galaxy  of  heroes  and  states 
men — may  be  safely  intrusted  these  important  questions,  involving  the 
honor  and  looking  to  the  great  future  of  our  incomparable  republic. 
In  conclusion,  sir,  permit  me,  on  behalf  of  my  command,  and  for 
myself,  to  express  the  hope  that  the  Empire  State,  the  home  of  this 
regiment,  may  continue  to  be  distinguished  for  her  patriotism,  her  de 
votion  to  the  National  Government,  as  evidenced  by  her  magnani 
mous  supply  of  men  and  money,  her  commercial  and  mechanical 
prosperity,  and  for  the  individual  happiness  of  her  sons  and  daughters. 

To  you,  my  comrades-in-arms  (turning  to  his  regiment),  with 
whom  I  have  so  long  served  through  perils,  hardships  and  sufferings, 
wishing  you  all  health,  prosperity  and  happiness,  I  offer  a  soldier's 
adieu — a  soldier's  ''farewell". 

The  regiment  returned  to  the  Battery  during  the  afternoon  and 
took  steamer  for  Hart's  Island,  where  they  will  be  mustered  out  and 
paid  off. 

On  the  march  down  Broadway  General  Stahel  paid  the 
regiment  the  distinguished  compliment  of  walking  at  the 
head  of  the  column.  Though  we  had  missed  the  reception 
that  had  been  prepared,  yet  there  were  hearty  demonstra 
tions  all  along  Broadway  to  the  Battery. 

Hart's  Island  \vas  at  the  upper  end  of  East  River,  at 
the  widening  out  of  Long  Island  Sound.  Here  there  were 
comfortable  barracks  in  readiness.  The  next  day,  in  order 
that  the  barracks  might  be  left  free  for  other  regiments  that 
might  come  by  night,  good  wall  tents  were  distributed,  and 
the  men  once  more  pitched  camp. 

The  afternoon  of  Sunday,  July  2,   Chaplain  McNair 


532  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

preached  his  last  sermon  from  the  words,  "Quit  you  like 
men."  The  4th,  the  colonel  and  several  delegated  officers 
took  the  colors  to  Albany,  where  they  were  received  by  the 
proper  custodians,  to  be  furled  and  deposited  in  the  capitol. 

The  6th,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  officers  and  many 
meetings  of  the  men,  for  the  exchange  of  expressions  of 
friendly  comradeship.  It  had  not  been  the  experience 
among  the  officers  generally,  that  an  assumed  and  unbend 
ing  dignity  was  necessary  for  the  exercise  of  needful  au 
thority.  The  enlisted  men  were  of  such  character  that  in 
civil  professions  and  business  pursuits  most  of  them  soon 
won  success. 

The  many  comrades  who  had  given  their  lives  in  the 
denies  of  the  mountains,  on  hot  battle  plains  or  in  southern 
prisons,  were  not  forgotten.  On  many  a  field  the  smoke  of 
battle  had  hardly  cleared  away  before  the  ground  was  filled 
with  hospital  tents,  where  men  and  women  were  ministering 
to  the  wounded  and  dying.  They  deserve  to  be  remembered. 

In  the  last  of  this  writing  acknowledgments  are  due  to 
President  Kayser  and  the  other  officers  and  many  members 
of  the  association,  and  to  Mr.  Philander  Reed,  always  a 
friend  to  the  regiment  and  the  association. 

And  here  a  brief  sketch  of  the  writer  may  be  permitted : 

A  native  of  Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y.,  the  son  of  Elam  and 
Hannah  Edwards  Beach,  pioneers  from  Connecticut.  Both 
grandfathers  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolution.  One  was  at 
Bunker  Hill,  the  other  at  Saratoga.  Graduated  at  Hamil 
ton  College,  in  1860:  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
fraternity.  Has  been  principal  of  the  high  schools  of  Du- 
buque,  Iowa,  and  Beloit,  Wis.  In  1884  was  made  principal 
of  the  high  school  and  superintendent  of  schools,  at  Madison, 
Wis.  In  1891  he  was  appointed  head  of  the  department  of 
history  and  civics  in  the  high  school  of  Milwaukee.  In  1867 
he  married  Sarah  M.  Peterson,  of  a  Revolutionary  ancestry, 


MUSTERED  OUT.  533 

the  sister  of  four  brothers  in  the  Union  army,  one  of  whom 
was  Charles  R.  Peterson  of  Co.  B. 

In  the  writing  of  these  records  special  acknowledg 
ments  are  due  to  Christian  T.  Williamson  of  Co.  F.  His 
father,  though  not  a  native  American,  was  an  intelligent 
observer  of  affairs  in  this  country.  At  the  time  of  Lafay 
ette's  last  visit  to  this  country  he  was  proprietor  of  a  large 
livery  stable  in  New  York,  and  he  drove  the  carriage  in 
which  the  distinguished  guest  rode  in  the  great  procession. 
Afterward  Mr.  Williamson  removed  to  Fairview,  N.  J.  The 
home  was  on  historic  ground.  In  1859,  Christian  T.  Will 
iamson  entered  Rutgers  College.  He  was  a  student  of 
history  and  understood  the  full  meaning  of  the  conflict  that 
had  been  forced  upon  the  country.  Before  he  had  completed 
his  second  year  in  college  the  war  began.  April  22,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  the  Second  New  Jersey  state  militia  for  three 
months.  He  was  discharged  July  31.  August  21  he  enlisted 
in  Company  F,  Lincoln  cavalry. 

In  the  service  he  was  more  concerned  about  doing  his 
duty  than  in  securing  promotion.  He  would  hurry  to  the 
front  when  there  was  fighting,  even  when  his  officers  were 
disposed  to  be  cautious.  He  was  thoroughly  respected 
throughout  the  regiment. 

In  falling  back  from  Berry ville,  June  13,  1863,  while 
fighting  with  the  Confederate  advance,  his  horse  was  killed, 
and  he  was  shot  in  the  right  arm  near  the  shoulder,  and  was 
taken  prisoner.  He  was  paroled  and  exchanged.  He  re- 
enlisted.  September  5,  1864,  he  was  again  wounded  near 
Winchester.  November  12,  he  was  in  the  ranks  again,  and 
in  the  charge  at  Nineveh.  He  was  mustered  out  as  com 
missary  sergeant. 

He  went  \vest  and  was  engaged  in  the  building  of  the 
Union  Pacific  railroad,  as  mechanical  engineer  and  sub-con 
tractor.  When  the  road  was  completed  he  became  a  whole 
sale  grocer  in  Omaha.  Then  he  returned  to  the  East  and 


534  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  New  York  Custom  House. 
For  his  efficiency  he  was  advanced  to  the  highest  position  in 
his  grade. 

He  was  always  greatly  interested  in  the  meetings  of  the 
association  and  did  more  than  any  other  man  in  securing 
facts  for  this  history.  His  hearing  had  been  affected  by 
the  shock  of  cannonading,  and  the  last  few  years  he  was 
afflicted  with  a  painful  infirmity. 

On  the  occasion  of  a  visit  with  him  and  his  family  less 
than  a  year  since,  in  all  his  sufferings,  he  had  lost  none  of 
his  interest  in  the  reminiscences  of  his  regiment.  He  died 
November  7,  1901,  and  the  following  Sabbath,  covered  by 
the  flag  that  he  had  defended,  he  was  borne  by  comrades  to 
his  last  resting  place  at  the  foot  of  the  western  side  of  the 
Palisades,  "the  hillside  for  his  pall" — a  model  soldier  and 
citizen. 

July  7,  the  regiment  was  paid  and  the  men  separated  to 
go  to  their  homes.  The  tents  they  had  occupied  were  left 
standing  for  other  regiments.  Records  and  property  were 
to  be  turned  over  to  Lieutenant  Dolan,  appointed  receiving 
officer.  The  writer,  delayed  by  some  unfinished  work  on  the 
adjutant's  desk,  stayed  yet  one  night  alone  in  the  deserted 
camp.  Late  in.  the  evening,  when  his  work  was  done,  he 
strolled  down  the  vacant  company  streets  and  along  the  shore 
of  the  "sounding  sea."  The  long  lines  of  white  tents  were 
empty  and  silent.  There  came  the  faint,  far-away  hum 
of  the  city;  the  waves  were  rolling  up  among  the  boulders 
on  the  beach.  Under  a  full  moon  half-way  up  the  east, 
the  surface  of  the  Sound  was  flashing  with  light.  Various 
craft  under  full  sail  were  moving  before  a  freshening  breeze. 
There  was  no  dread  of  a  night  alarm.  No  bugle  sounding 
"Boots  and  saddles",  would  call  us  to  another  day  of  battle. 
All  the  wide  foreground  was  a  scene  of  peace,  bright  with 
promise ;  in  contrast  with  it  was  the  receding  background  of 
four  years  of  war,  crowded  with  the  most  momentous  events 
of  history. 


First  Regiment  of  Cavalry 

(Veteran). 

LINCOLN  CAVALRY;  FIRST  UNITED  STATES 
VOLUNTEER  CAVALRY. 

From  New  York  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  1861  to  1865,  com 
piled  by  Frederick  Phisterer,  late  Captain  U.  S.  Army,  1890;  now 
Act'g  Adj.  Gen.,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July,  1901. 

This  regiment  was  organized  by  Col.  Carl  Schurz,  suc 
ceeded  by  Col.  Andrew  T.  McReynolds,  under  special  au 
thority  from  the  President,  in  New  York  City,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  between  July  i6th 
and  August  3  ist,  1861,  for  a  service  of  three  years. 

Companies  A,  B,  D,  E,  G,  H,  I,  L  and  M  were  recruited 
principally  in  New  York  City,  four  of  them  being  composed 
of  Germans,  Hungarians  and  Poles;  Company  C,  Boyd's 
Company  C  Cavalry,  Pa.  Vols.,  at  Philadelphia;  F,  at  Syra 
cuse;  and  K,  Michigan  Company,  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 

The  regiment  left  the  State  by  detachments;  Company 
C,  the  first  in  the  field,  leaving  July  2ist,  1861  ;  by  Septem 
ber  loth,  1 86 1,  the  regiment  was  all  in  the  field;  it  served  at 
and  near  Washington,  D.  C.,  from  July,  1861 ;  in  Franklin's 
and  Heintzelman's  Divisions,  A.  P.,  from  Oct.  4th,  1861 ;  in 
ist  Division,  ist  Corps,  A.  P.,  from  March  24th,  1862;  with 
the  6th  Corps,  A.  P.,  from  May,  1862;  in  ist  Cavalry  Bri 
gade,  A.  P.,  from  July  8th,  1862;  in  4th  Brigade,  Cavalry 

535 


536  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Division,  A.  P.,  from  September,  1862;  in  Averill's  Cav 
alry  Division,  8th  Corps,  Middle  Dept.,  from  October,  1862; 
with  the  forces  for  the  defense  of  the  Upper  Potomac,  8th 
Corps,  Middle  Dept.,  from  November,  1862;  in  the  3d  Bri 
gade,  2d  Division,  8th  Corps,  from  March,  1863;  in  the 
Dept.  of  the  Susquehanna,  from  June,  1863;  in  the  Dept.  of 
W.  Va.,  from  August,  1863  ;  in  the  ist  Brigade,  ist  Division, 
Cavalry,  Army  of  W.  Va.,  from  November,  1863;  in  the  2d 
Brigade,  2cl  Division,  Army  W.  Va.,  from  August  27,  1864; 
in  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah,  from  October,  1864,  and 
in  the  30!  Brigade,  3d  Division,  Cavalry,  Army  of  the  Shen 
andoah,  from  December,  1864,  and  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  from  March,  1865. 

At  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  service,  those  entitled 
thereto  were  discharged,  and  the  regiment,  composed  of 
veterans  and  recruits,  continued  in  the  service  until  June 
27th,  1865,  when,  commanded  by  Col.  Alonzo  W.  Adams,  it 
was  mustered  out  at  Alexandria,  Va. 

During  its  service  the  regiment  lost  by  death,  killed  in 
action,  3  officers,  22  enlisted  men;  died  of  wounds  received 
in  action,  2  officers,  21  enlisted  men;  died  of  disease  and 
other  causes,  2  officers,  118  enlisted  men;  total,  7  officers 
and  161  enlisted  men;  aggregate,  168;  of  whom  44  enlisted 
men  died  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  regiment,  or  portions  of  it,  took  part  in  the  follow 
ing  engagements,  etc. : 


CHRISTIAN  T.  WILLIAMSON. 


WM.  H.  BEACH. 


CLARK   STANTON. 


EDWARD  WRIGHT. 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 


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THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 


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Men  of  the  Regiment 


OMITTING  DESERTERS. 


Abel,  John — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Corporal 

Adair,    James— H    Aug    21    61— June   27    65    Cap    at    Berryville    May 

10  Corporal 

Adam,   Heinrich — E  Mar  7  64 — Nov  7  64 
Adams,    Alonzo — L   Aug  22   61 — June   27   65    First   Lieutenant   Major 

Lieut  Colonel  Colonel  Brev  Brig  General 
Adams,  Edward  J — May  9  64 
Adams,  Horace  B — E  Jan  20  65 — June  27  65  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 

and  Commissary 

Adams,  John — Feb  26  64  Det  in  Q  M  Dept  Hart's  Island 
Adams,   John — C   Nov    17  64 

Adams,  Julius — H  and  L  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 
Adams,   Lorenzo — Aug  21   61 
Adams,   Peter — Dec  30  61 
Adelmann,   Philip — L  July   I  61 — Aug  22  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63 

Adlum,  Thomas — M  Aug  31  62 — June  10  62 

Affleck,  John — M  Aug  29  61 — Aug  28  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Ahlborn,    George — L   Sept    12   61 — June  27  65    Wounded   and   Cap   at 

Winchester  June  15  63 

Akenhart,  Thomas — E  Dec  23  63 — June  7  65 
Albitze,  Herman — I  Feb  19  64 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Died 

in  prison  at  Florence  Nov  17  64 
Albrandt,    George — L   Aug  22  61 — Aug  23   64   Cap   at   Strasburg   Feb 

26  63 

Albrecht,  Henry — I  Aug  I  61 — June  27  65 
Albreder,   Francis — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65 
Aldrich,  Asahel — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65 
Allensbacher,  Neponnick — G  July  20  61 — July  30  62 
Alexander,    William — A    Oct    n    61 — June    27    65    Sergt    Sergt-major 

Second  Lieut  First  Lieut  and  Q  M  Captain 
Althaus,  Ulrich— Dec  30  64  Tr  to  Sixth  N  Y  Cav 
Anderson,   Charles — K  Feb  22  64 — June  27  65   Medal  of  Honor  from 

Sec  of  War 

Anderson,  John — K  Aug  12  61 — May  14  62 
Anderson,  Joseph  H — H  Aug  16  61 — Aug  18  64 
Anderson,  Robert — Dec  30  64  Tr  to  112  N  Y  V 
Anderson,  Wm  D — K  Aug  12  61 — Nov  10  62  Cap    on  Chickahominy 

May  22  62 

Angervine,  Wm  H — H  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65 
Anker,  Peter — G  Mar  2  64 — June  27  65 

645 


546  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Anson,   James   R— K   Feb   23   64— Cap   May   13   64   Died   in   prison   at 

Andersonville  Sept  14  64 
Anson,  Lorenzo— Dec  23  64  Tr  to  93  N  Y  V 
Antes.  Henry  P— M  Aug  31  61— Sept  5  62 
Appell,  John — K  Aug  12  61 

Armsby,  Emory — F  July  24  61 — Tr  Lieut  to  15  N  Y  Cav 
Armstronge,  William — B  Aug  21  61 — Oct  i  61 
Arnd,   Frederick — L 

Arnest,  Henry — E  Aug  22  61 — Apr  15  63  Tr  to  Inv  C 
Arrenberg,   Otto— G   Mar   14  64 — June  27  65 
Arthur,  James — D  July  16  61 — Jan  6  62 

Atherton,  Nelson — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  First  Sergt  Q  M  Sergt 
Austin,  Charles — M  Aug  31  61 — June  27  65 
Averill,  Geo — K  Aug  12  61 — Jan  7  62 
Averill,    Paul — K   Aug    12   61 — Aug    16   64   Cap   at   Williamsport   July 

10  63 
Avery,  Daniel — F  Dec  28  63 — June  27  65 

Babcock,  Henry  H — B  July  19  61 — Oct  i  61 
Bachmann,  Joseph — G  July  20  61 — Aug  15  61   Sergt 
Bagley,  Peter — M  Sept  9  61 — Mar  6  62 
Baier,  Antoine — E  Apr  5  64 — June  27  65 
Bailey,  Charles  H— M  Sept  7  61— Oct  22  61 

Bailey,  Ezra  H — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  First  Lieut  and  Q  M  Cap 
tain  Major  Br.  Lieut  Col 
Baker,  Charles — B  July  14  64 — July  65 
Baker,  Laurenze — F  July  24  61 — Aug  8  64 
Baldwin,   J   Beecher — K  Dec    16  63   Cap  at   New   Market   May   13  64 

Died  in  prison  at  Florence  Jan  9  65 
Baldwin,  Joseph  G — M  July  30  61 — June  27  65 
Ball,  Robert — H  Aug  25  61 — July  15  62 
Ball,  Valentine — B  Sept  30  64 — June  6  65 
Bange.  Herman — E  Mar  1 1  64 — June  27  65 

Barber,  Samuel  I — M  Aug  28  61 — June  27  65  Q  M  Sergt  Second  Lieut 
Barker,  John  H — A  July  30  61 — Sept  27  62  First  Sergt  Second  Lieut 
Barker,  William — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Barlon,  John  A — D  July  16  61 — Cap  at  Berryville  May  9  64     Supposed 

to  have  died  in  prison  at  Florence  Mar  17  65 
Barrones,  George  B — B  Aug  21  61 — Feb  24  62 
Barry,  Edmund — B  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Games'  Cross  Roads 

Oct  12  64 

Barton,  Charles  A — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65     Wounded 
Barton,  George  T — B  July  19  61 — Oct  i  61 
Barton,  Josiah  S — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65 

Bashold.  Augustus — D  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65    Tr  to  Sixth  N  Y  V 
Battersby,   Jenyns   C — Sept   13  61 — June  27  65     First  Lieut  and  Adjt 

Captain  Major  Lieut  Colonel  Br  Colonel 
Baugham.  John — F  Aug  21  61 — Aug  22  64 
Baxter,  Henry  S — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  Color  Bearer  Non- 

Com  Staff 
Beach,  William  H — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  First  Sergt  Second 

Lieut  First  Lieut  Adjutant 

Beakes,  George  M — Oct  3  61 — Oct  8  63  Ass't  Surgeon 
Beattie,  James  Sr — Mar  10  64 — Mar  7  65 
Beatty,  James  Jr — Apr  i  64 — May  7  65 
Beck,  Charles— B  July  19  61— Sept  i  62    Deserted 
Beck,  Herman — L  Aug  22  61 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64     Died 

in  prison  at  Andersonville  Sept  20  64 
Beckendorf,  Christophus — L  Aug  22  61 — Drowned  Feb  16  64 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  547 

Becker,  Charles — I  Dec   18  64 — June  27  65 

Behan,  Alexander  D — F  July  24  61 — Nov  17  62     Q  M  Sergt 

Beholt,  August — L  Aug  29  64 — June  27  65 

Bell,  Alonzo— Sept  14  64    First  N  Y  V  Cav 

Bell,  Jerome — B  July  19  61 — Aug  20  64  Cap  at  Berryville  Oct  18  63 

Bell,  William— A  July  30  61— Dec  27  61 

Belskany,  E  P  DeC — L  Nov  21  64 — June  27  65 

Beltz,  Louis — L  Apr  30  64 — June  27  65 

Bennack,  Henry — unassigned  Mar  15  65     Tr  Co  F  39  N  Y  V 

Bennett,  David  A — F  July  24  61 — June  5  63  Captain 

Bennett,  John — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 

Benson,  John — E  Sept  7  64 — June  6  65 

Bentley,  James  W — K  Aug  12  61 — promoted  2nd  Lieut  2nd  Mich  Cav 

Dec  5  62 
Berckheimer,    Wilhelm — G    July   20   61 — June    27   65    Cap    Winchester 

June  15  63 

Berger,  Peter — Unassigned  Nov  28  64 — assigned  Dec  I  64  68th  N  Y  V 
Bertram,  Herman — E  July  20  61 — Mar  5  62 
Besley,  Bartholomew — B  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  Cap  at  New 

Market  May  13  64  Corporal 

Beets,  J  E  unassigned  Sept  14  64 — assigned  Oct  n  64  to  ist  N  Y  V 
Bicken,  Joseph — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64 
Bingham,  George  W — A  July  30  61 — Oct  15  62 
Bird,  Charles  S — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Birney,  Michael — Unassigned  Sept  15  64  assigned  2nd  NYC  (Harris 

Light) 

Bischof,  Rupert — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Winchester  June  15  63 
Bishop,  William  H — M  Aug  21  61 — Sept  17  62 

Black,  Daniel — C  July  19  61     Killed  in  action  Nov  16  63  Mount  Jack 
son   Va 

Black,  James — D  Jan  12  64 — June  27  65 
Blau,  Albert — G  July  20  61 — Dec  19  62 
Blei,  Jacob — I  Aug  12  64 — June  27  65     Wounded  Apr  3  65 
Blodget,  Rufus  A — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  tr  Co  K  May  22  63  Cap 

Berryville  Aug  22  63 

Blum,  Anderson — A  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 
Bock,  Claus — E  Mar  23  64 — June  27  65 
Bocock,  John  T — D  Feb  20  64     Cap  New  Market  May  13  65  Recap 

Mar  16  65 

Bogert,  John — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65 
Bohle,  Friedrich — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  23  64 
Bohlmann,  Henry — L  Oct  i  64 — June  12  65 
Boland.  Charles— D  Apr  7  64— June  27  65 
Bolte,  Augustus — L  Feb  27  64 — June  27  65 
Bolton,  Albert — G  Sept  19  64 — June  6  65 
Bond,  William — H  Aug  25  61 — June  22  65 
Borgmeyer,  Frederick — A  Aug  25  65 — Died  Sept  16  63 
Borman,  Adolph — L  Apr  5  64 — June  27  65 
Borner,  Christian — G  Apr  12  64 — June  27  65 
Bossert,  Henry  L — C  Aug  21  61 — Mar  21  62 

Bouchet,  Pierre — Unassigned  Dec  30  64 — assigned  Jan  n  65  6th  NYC 
Boudinot,  Frank  B — D  July  16  61 — Nov  2  61 
Boughton,  Henry  C — H  Sept  7  64 — June  6  65 
Bowman,  George — Hospital  Steward  Sept  13  61 — Sept  27  63 
Boyd,  Joseph — A  July  30  61 — Aug  22  64 
Boyd,  William — A  July  30  61 — Aug  22  64 

Boyd,  William  H— C  July  19  61     Captain  Major  Apr  3  63  tr  Col  2ist 
Pa  C 


548  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Boyd,  William  H  Jr— C  July  19  61   Sergt— Oct  2  63  Lieut  2ist  Pa  C 

Boywood,  Julius — I  Aug  61  Cap  New  Market  May  13  64  Sergt  Died 
Andersonville  Sept  20  64 

Bradley,  Augustus — D  July  16  61  tr  H  Oct  61  tr  D  Jan  i  62 — Aug  16  64 

Bradley,  George  W — D  July  16  61 — May  31  62 

Brady,  Thomas — H  Jan  30  64 — June  27  65 

Braistead,  William  B — M  Aug  29  61 — Mar  5  62 

Brakel,  Michael — L  Apr  7  64 — June  27,  65 

Brann,  John — E  Mar  5  64 — June  27  65 

Brennan,  Peter — B  Mar  15  64 — June  27  65 

Britain,  Bennett — B  Aug  25  61 — Aug  20  64    Cap  Sept  14  62 

Broadwell,  Homer — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65 

Brockhausen,  Henry — L  Mar  29,  62 — June  27,  65  Cap  New  Market 
May  13  64 

Bockover,  Peter — B  July  19  61 — Aug  26  63  Absent  sick  Eighth  N  Y 
Cav  Died  in  Lincoln  General  Hospital,  Washington 

Brodbecker,  John — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65 

Bromfield,  William — A  Feb  I  64 — June  27  65  Cap  New  Market  May 
13  64 

Brommelmeyer,  Henry — I  Feb  23  64 — June  27  65  Cap  New  Market 
May  13  64 

Brooks,  F.  S— H  died  Oct  20  64 

Brooks,  Marion  H — F  Aug  27  64 — June  6  65 

Brott,  Anthony — K  Aug  29  61 — Cap  June  14  63  Died  May  19  64  Ander 
sonville 

Brown,  Alonzo — Unassigned  Sept  26  64 — assigned  Oct  n  61  N  Y  V  C 

Brown,  Berlin — F  Aug  21  61 — Dec  18  61 

Brown,  Burlin — F  Mar  29  64 — Dec  23  64 

Brown,  George — A  Sept  20  64 — June  6  65 

Brown,  Henry  F — I  Feb  20  64 — June  27  65 

Brown,  John — K  Aug  12  61 — July  21  62 

Brown  Stephen  Jr — D  July  16  61 — Aug  16  64 

Brown,  Wrilliam— C  July  19  61  tr  Sept  9  63  to  Co  E  i6th  V  R  C 

Brown,  William  J — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 

Bruce,  Abram — B  July  19  61 — Jan  27  65  Cap  Dispatch  Station  June 
26  62  Wagon  master 

Brunner,  Ludwig — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65 

Bryan,  William — I  Jan  5  64  Cap  New  Market  May  13  64 — Died  Sept 
3  64  at  Andersonville. 

Bryne,  John — F  July  24  61 — Nov  16  62 

Buchholtz,  Gustav  W — I  Mar  31  64 — May  13  65 

Buck,  Gottfried — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  and  cap  White- 
port  June  12  63 

Buck,  Jacob — G  Sept  12  64 — June  6  65 

Buck,  John  B — D  July  16  61 — died  Annapolis  Jan  12  65  Cap  New 
Market  May  13  64 

Buck,  John  P — L  Mar  2  64 — June  27  65 

Buckledge,  Charles— E  Jan  19  64  tr  Jan  27  65  to  243  Co  ist  Bat  V  R  C 

Billiard,  Charles  H— H  Aug  5  61— June  27  65 

Bulte,  Henry— M  Sept  2  61— May  27  62 

Burd,  John  R— B  Nov  19  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Hampshire  Co  Nov  13  62 
Cap  New  Market  May  64 

Burgess,  Adam  S — C  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Martinsburg  July 
24,  64 

Burke,  Edward— D  July  16  61— Feb  14  62 

Burke,  John— F  Oct  7  64— died  Jan  29  65 

Burke,  Phillip — D  Aug  21  61 — died  Sept  20  63 

Burke,  Thomas — M  Oct  12  64 — June  27  65 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  549 

Burleigh,  LeMoyne — H  Oct  21  64 — June  27  65  Second  Lieut 

Burr,  Elias — F  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 

Busch,  Michael — I  Feb  27  64 — June  27  65     Cap  at  Harrisonburg  June 

5  64 

Busch,  Philip — G  Aug  28  61 — Aug  23  64 
Bushell,  Arthur — B  Sept  2  64 — June  6  65 
Buss,  Henry — M  July  28,  61 — June  27,  65     Cap  at  Winchester  June  13 

63    Wounded  at  Piedmont  June  5  64  First  Sergt 
Bussing,  Edwin  A — M  July  28  61 — Aug  28  64 
Butler,  John — A  July  30  61 — Jan  13  63 

Byatt,  Alfred— B  July  19  61— Dec  15  62    Cap  at  Blue  Gap  Oct  2  62 
Byrne,  John — May  7  64 — May  10  65     Det  Hart's  Island 

Cadler,  Michael — B  Sept  22  64 — June  6  65 

Cafferty,  Milton — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65     First  Sergt  Second  Lieut 

First   Lieut     Wounded   and   Cap   at   Greencastle   Pa   Cap   at   Port 

Republic  Sept  27  64 

Calhoine,  W  I — C  July  19  61 — Aug  2  62 
Callighan.  James — K  Feb  8  64 — June  27  65 
Cameron,  Harman — H  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Cameron,  John — H  Aug  5  61 — Cap  at  Mt  Jackson  Dec  20  63    Died  in 

prison  at   Andersonville  July  4  64 

Campbell,  Cleveland  J— C  Oct  28  61— Oct  24  62    Second  Lieut 
Campbell,  Frederick— Dec  28  63— Feb  8  64  igth  N  Y  Cav 
Campbell,  John — B  July  19  61 — Oct  i  61 
Cannon,  John — H  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 
Capler,  Jacob — H  Aug  5  61 — June  24  63 
Carlton,  Samuel — B  Aug  25  61 — Dec  27  61 
Carman,  Thomas — B  Nov  19  61 — June  27  65     Cap  at  Romney  Oct  2  62 

Cap  and  escaped  July  64 

Cannon,  Warren — H  Sept  7  64 — June  6  65    Awarded  a  medal  of  honor 
Carr,  James — F  July  18  61 — June  27  65 
Carrig,  Cornelius — F  July  24  61 — June  9  63 
Carroll,  James — B  Aug  21  61 — July  10  62 
Carroll,  Thomas — A  July  30  61 — Dec  23  61 
Carroll  William — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Q  M  Sergt 
Case,  Perry — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65     Cap  May  13  64 
Casey,  John — B  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 
Casey,  Thomas — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Cavanagh,  John — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65 
Chamberlain,  Joseph  E — F  Feb  17  64 — June  27  65 
Chandler,  Amos  B — C  Sept  8  64 — June  6  65 
Chelins,  William — I  Aug  I  61     Cap  June  26  63  Cap  May  13  64    Died 

in  prison  at  Florence  Nov   10  64 
Chlum,  Ludwig — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65 — Sergt     Wounded  at  Five 

Forks  Apr  3  65 
Christiasson,   Paul — G  Aug  22  61 — Aug  23  64  Corp  Cap  at  Strasburg 

May  8  63 

Christy,  Gamaliel  R — D  July  16  61 — Feb  14  62 

Church,  Frank — D  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Sergt    Wounded  at  Peters 
burg  Apr  6  65 

Clancey,  Patrick — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65 
Clark,  Charles  D— F  July  24  61— Sergt 
Clark,  John — F  July  24  61 — Aug  8  64 
Clark,  Nathaniel  B— B  July  19  61— Oct  I  61 

Clark,  Robert  E— H  Aug  21  6 1— June  27  65  First  Sergt  First  Lieut 
Clark,  William — H  Aug  3  64 — June  27  65 
Clark,  Wm  H— F  July  24  61— Dec  5  62  Sergt 
Clarke,  Charles — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65 


550  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Clarke,  Charles  C — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65 

Clarke,   Joseph   A — H    Aug   5   61 — June  27   65     Cap   at    New    Market 

May  13  64 

Clausen,  Aug  F — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  16  64 
Clavin,  James — H  Aug  16  61 — Aug  18  64 
Clavin,  Michael — A  Dec  30  63 — June  27  65 
Cleary,  Dennis — B  Feb  26  64 — June  27  65 
Cleary,  John — B  July  19  61 — Cap  Oct  2  62  at  Blue  Gap  Cap  at  New 

Market  May  13  64  Sergt  Died  in  prison  at  Florence  Feb  17  65 
Clement,  John — A  Aug  21  61 — Aug  22  64  Cap  at  Frederick  Sept  13  62 

Cap  at  Greencastle  July  5  63 
Clement,  Louis  E — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65  Bugler  Cap  at  H  F  June 

25  63 

Clifford,   Charles  E— B  Dec  22  63 

Clinton,  Hugh — D  Feb  9  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  Apr  24  64 
Clough,  William — A  Mar  17  64 — June  27  65 
Cochrane,  James — A  July  30  6 1 

Coenen,  Emil — G  July  20  61 — Aug  17  61  Second  Lieut 
Colar,  Joseph — L  Oct  25  64 — June  27  65 
Cole,  Edward — B  Sept  20  64 — June  6  65 
Cole,  John — H  Aug  5  61 — May  28  62 
Cole.  John  H — F  Aug  16  61 — Hospital  steward 
Cole,  Sidney— Dec  3  63— Feb  8  64  igth  N  Y  Cav 
Cole,  Wm  D — F  Jan  22  64 — Aug  10  65 
Coleman,  John  M — Mar  22  64 — Apr  19  64  U  S  Navy 
Coligan,  John — H  Aug  21  61 — July  15  62 
Collende,  Wm — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Collier,  Michael — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Collins,  Elbert  S— K  Aug  12  61— Nov  12  61 
Collins,  George  W— Dec  23  63— Apr  7  64  First  N  Y  V  Cav 
Collins,  Samuel — D  July  16  61 — Feb  7  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Collins,  William— D  Aug  16  61— Died  Jan  4  62 
Collins,  William— Dec  21  63— Feb  8  64  igth  N  Y  Cav 
Conder,  Henry  C — M  Feb  25  64 — June  27  65 
Conger,  Harvey — B  Jan  13  64 — June  27  65 
Conklin,  John — A  Sept  8  64 — June  6  65 
Connell,  George — D  Oct  i  64 — June  6  65 
Connell,  Thomas— C  July  19  61— Apr  7  63  Q  M  Sergt 
Connelly,  Michael— M  Mar  26  64— Dec  28  64  Tr  to  looth  N  Y  V 
Conrad,  F — Died  in  prison  at  Andersonville  Sept  29  64 
Conroy,  John — L  Aug  2  64 — June  27  65 
Consaun,  Wm  H — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Coventz,  Frederick — E  July  20  61 — Feb  14  62 
Cook,  Francis  W— D  Mar  18  64— June  27  65 
Cook,  Martin — B  July  19  61 — Nov  8  61 
Cook,  Richard — D  July  16  61 — Feb  22  62 
Cook,  William — M  Sept  5  61 — Feb  22  62 
Coppinger,  James — D  Apr  3  64 — June  27  65 
Corbin,  Charles  A— B  July  19  61— Nov  7  61 
Corbin,  Michael— A  Feb  2  64— June  27  65  Wounded  July  15  64 
Corey,  Henry — F  Sept  18  63 — May  22  65  Cap  Feb  20  64  Andersonville 

prison 

Corsa,  William— A  July  8  64— June  27  65 
Cosgrove,  John — A  July  30  61 — Dec  64  looth  N  Y  V 
Courts,  Fayette  S— B  Aug  25  61— July  18  64 
Cowan,    Robert   R — D   Aug   21    61 — Supposed   to   have   been   killed   in 

action  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Cowell,  John— A  July  30  61— Oct  14  61 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  551 

Cox,  John — H  Aug  5  61 — June  30  62 

Coyle,  Thomas — A  July  30  61 

Cramer,  John — B  July  19  61 — Feb  24  62  Corp 

Crawford,  Michael — H  Aug  16  61 — July  14  65     Cap  at  Frederick  July 

864 

Creery,  John — M  Aug  28  61 — Feb  22  62 
Creque,  Kenrie  B — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Crim,  John  L — F  Feb  23  64 — June  27  65 
Cris,  John — B  Aug  16  61 — Dec  27  61 
Grossman,  Edward  J — F  July  24  61 — Nov  18  61 
Cummings,  John — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Cummings,  Thomas  H — M  Sept  6  61 — Mar  27  62 
Cummins,  George  W — K  Aug  12  61 — May  22  62     Killed  in  action  at 

Mechanicsville. 
Cunningham,  Manton — A  Sept  5  64 — June  6  65 

Daber,  Frederick — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  Second  Lieut  First 

Lieut   Captain 
Daggett,  Henry — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

Dailey,  Daniel — B  Nov  19  61 — June  27  65 
Dailey,  John  J— B  Aug  21  61— Dec  8  62 
Dailey,  Lawrence — B  Mar  29  64 — June  27  65 

Daly,  Hugh — B  Sept  14  64 — June  6  65  Cap  at  Beaver  Dam  Mar  16  65 
Dangler,  James  H — B  Feb  29  64 — Mar  16  65    Wounded  at  Fisher's  Hill 

Sept  22  64 

Davis,  Arthur  H — B  Feb  29  64 — June  27  65 
Davis,  Austin — C  July  19  61 — Aug  31  62  Tr  36th  Mass  V 
Davis,  Charles  C  July  19  61 — Killed  in  action  June  5  63  at  Berryville 
Davison,    David   I — C  July    19  61 — Feb    11    65      Cap   at    New    Market 

May  13  64 

Day,  Richard — D  Mar  24  64 — July  7  65 
Day,  Theodore — D  Mar  24  64 — June  27  65 
Dayton,  Benj  F — D  Mar  i  64 — June  27  65 

Dean,  Sanford  B — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  Second  Lieut 
Dean,  Henry — E  Mar  10  64 — June  27  65 
Debney,  Robert — B  Aug  26  64 — June  6  65 
Decker,  Almon — B  July  19  61 — Sept  6  65  Sergt 

Dedrick,  Jacob — A  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Dehn,  Wilhelm — G  July  20  61 — Apr  19  62 

De  Kamp.  John  S — D  Aug  21  61 — Mar  12  63  Second  Lieut  I4th  N  Y  Cav 
De  Lacy,  George  W — C  Aug  26  61 — June  27  65  Com  Sergt 
Delainey,  William — B  Nov  19  61 — May  24  62 
Delaney,  Augustus — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65  Q  M  Sergt  Second  Lieut 

First  Lieut  Captain 

Delaney,  John — D  July  16  61 — Aug  16  64 
Dellehant,  James — D  Aug  25  61 — Aug  30  64 
Demarest,  James  B — A  July  30  61 — Ang  22  64 
Denise,  Benj  F — B  July  19  61 — Dec  31  61 
Denison,  Oren  D — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Denton,  William — B  July  19  61 — Died  from  wounds  received  in  action 

Nov  13  61     Bugler 

Dever,  William — C  July  19  61 — Cap  Nov  9  65  Altoona 
Devlin,  John — M  Dec  23  63 — June  6  65 
DeWent,  John  A— A  Aug  21  6 1— Died  Feb  i  62 
DeWitt,  Michael— H  Oct  25  64— June  27  65 
Diamond,  John — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65     First  Sergt 
Diamond,  John  G — M  Sept  9  61 — May  63 


552  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Dickerson,  Enos  A  O— B  Aug  21  61— Cap  Oct  2  64     Died  in  prison 

at  Salisbury  N  C  Nov  7  64 
Dietrick,  Henry — L  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 
Deitsch,  Jacob— G  July  20  61— Cap  at  Strasburg  Feb  26  63     Cap  Aug 

5  64    Died  in  prison  at  Salisbury  Jan  31  65 
Dineen,  Edward— Apr  13  65— May  7  65  Hart's  Island 
Dirker,  Henry — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64 

Disbrow,  David— H  Aug  5  61— Nov  7  64  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 
Disosway,  William  W— B  July  19  61— Aug  13  62  Sergt  Second  Lieut 

First  N  Y  Mounted  Rifles 
Dobrowsky,  Henry — L  Aug  22  61 — Dec  20  62 

Dodge,  James— M  Mar  i  64— Shot  at  Edinburg  Oct  6  64  Died  Oct  16  64 
Doherty,  Bernard — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65     Cap  at  Martinsburg  July 

3  64  Sergt 

Dolohenty,  Patrick — H  Apr  16  64 — June  27  65 
Domesril,  James — D  July  16  61 — Aug  16  64 
Domkath,  August — G  Aug  22  61 — Aug  23  64  First  Sergt 
Donehower,   Thomas  H — C  July   19  61 — Dec  21   62     Cap  at  Savage's 

station  June  29  62 

Donnelly,  Stephen — H  Aug  7  61 — June  27  65 
Donovan,  Timothy — H  Aug  21  61 — Nov  26  62 
Doran,  Michael  C — M  Nov  19  64 — June  27  65 
Dorman,  Richard  G — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65     Cap  at  New  Market 

May  13  64  Sergt  Q  M  Sergt 

Douglas,  George  C — June  14  63 — Dec  27  64  Ass't  Surgeon 
Dounaly,    Patrick — C  July   19  61 — June  27  65     Cap   at   Games'   Cross 

Roads  Oct  64 

Dow,  Willis — D  June  16  64 — Sick  in  hospital 
Dowling,  Wm  M — H  Aug  21  61 — Died  from  injury  Oct  17  6 1 
Doyle,  Matthew — D  Aug  21  61 — Nov  21  62 

Drake,  Charles  H— D  Dec  15  63— Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Dreisbach,  Joshua — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Altoona  Nov  9  62 
Drew,  Wm  N — F  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 
Drewlow,  William — L  Sept  12  61 — Oct  5  61 
Driver,  George  W — H  Aug  23  61 — June  27  65  Com  Sergt 
Druhe,  Louis — D  Mar  15  62 — Died  Feb  8  64  at  Halltown 
Dubach,  Andrew — G  Jan  n  64 — June  27  65 
Dudley,  John  L — Dec  29  63 — Feb  8  64  19th  N  Y  Cav 
Duell,  Reuben  G — K  Aug  29  61 — Dec  20  62 
Duffing,  Ludwig — G  May  27  64 — June  6  65 
Duffy,  James  A — D  July  16  61 — Res  July  21  62  First  Lieut 
Dufur,  David — M  Sept  21  64 — June  6  65 
Dugan,  Hugh — Feb  26  64 — Died  Apr  9  64  in  hospital 
J)unn,  James — D  Sept  21  64 — June  6  65 
Dunn,  Michael  I — D  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Dunning,  James — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65  Q  M  Sergt 
Durham,  Andrew  F— K  Feb  27  64— June  27  65 
Durham,  Marcus— K  Aug  12  61— Aug  16  64  Com  Sergt 
Durr,  Charles— I  Aug  I  61— May  21  62 
Durr,  Frederick— I  Feb  7  62— June  27  65 
Dwinell,  Myron— Sept  5  64— Oct  12  64  First  N  Y  V  Cav 
Dyas,  Richard  A— M  Sept  9  61— Aug  28  64 
Dycher,  Matthew  D— M  Apr  i  64    Shot  by  provost  guard 

Earle,  John  J— H  Apr  23  64— June  27  65 

Eastley,  Thomas  C — D  July  16  61 — Sept  16  62  Vet  Sur  Cap  at  Manassas 

Aug  62 

Eaton,  Frederick— A  July  30  61— Feb  21  63 
Eaton,  Orval  B— G  Sept  18  63— June  19  65 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  553 

Ebling,  Henry — L  Feb  27  64 — June  27  65  Sergt 

Edsall,  Burton — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65 

Ehle,  August — I  Aug  i  61 — June  30  63 

Ehrhardt,  Joseph — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64  Corp 

Eichenlaub,  John  J  H — G  May  2  64 — June  27  65  Corp 

Eickmann,  John — G  July  20  61 — Feb  14  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 
13  64 

Eiring,  Henry  — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65 

Eisentraut,  John — I  Aug  10  61 — Dec  20  62 

Eldred,  Edw  W — K  Aug  20  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  Apr 
24  64 

Eldredge,  George — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Romney  Oct  2  62 
Corp 

Elener,  Charles — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 
13  64 

Elliott,  Frederick — July  20  61 — Nov  15  64  Major  and  Surgeon  Con 
tinued  in  service  as  civilian  Medical  Director 

Elliott,  Frederick — H  Aug  5  61 — Feb  16  63 

Elliott,  Samuel  G — A  Feb  3  64 — June  27  65 

Elliott,  William  J — C  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  63 

Ellis,  Roland — C  July  19  61 — Sept  63  killed  accidentally  in  target  prac 
tice  at  Martinsburg  First  Sergt 

Elting,  Oscar — A  July  30  61 — Aug  22  66    Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 

Emmel,  William — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64  Cap  at  Middletown  Feb 
23  63 

Emmons,  Charles — H  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  White  Oak 
Swamp  July  I  62 

Endicott,  Isaac — M  Sept  5  61 — June  27  62 

England,  William — A  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 

Ennis,  John — B  July  19  61 — Res  Aug  21  62  First  Lieut 

Epner,  Christian — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June 
15  63 

Erwen,  Jacob — C  July  19  61 — Killed  in  action  Aug  18  61  at  Pohick 
Church 

Evans,  Charles — H  Feb  22  64 — June  27  65 

Evans,  John  W — F  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 

Evans,  Lemuel — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65  First  Sergt  Second  Lieut 
First  Lieut  Captain 

Evarts,  Charles  B — K  Feb  15  64 — Jan  23  65 

Evaton,  William — H  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 

Failing,  John — M  Sept  21  64 — June  6  65 

Fanning,  WTesley — M  Feb  13  64 — June  27  65 

Farley,  William — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65 

Farmer,  Thomas — A  Aug  16  61 — Jan  17  65  Cap  at  Mt  Jackson  Nov  18  63 

Farmilton,  William — B  Aug  21  61 — Nov  8  61 

Farnsworth,  Vernon  T — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65  First  Sergt  Second 

Lieut  First  Lieut  Captain 

Farrell,  Michael — M  Aug  28  61 — Aug  28  64  Corp 
Farster,  Herman — E  July  20  61 — Apr  2  63 
Farster.  Otto  H — E  July  20  61 — Cap  at  Mt  Jackson  Dec  20  63     Died 

in  prison  at  Andersonville  June  25  64 
Fearson,  Joseph — F  Sept  27  64 
Featherson,  Thomas — D  Aug  21  61 — Aug  20  64 
Feenighty,  John — F  Aug  16  61 — Died  Nov  29  61 
Feeser,  George — L  Apr  i  64 — June  27  65 

Felton,  Paul— H  Aug  16  61— Dec  21  62  Sergt  Regt'l  Com  Sergt 
Fennimore.  Samuel — C  Aug  21  61 — Aug  8  62 
Fenton,  Frederick  G — M  Sept  4  61 — June  27  65  Com  Sergt 


554  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Ferber,  Philip — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64  Bugler 

Ferguson,  John — D  July  16  61 — Oct  17  64 

Finster,  Edward — L  Aug  22  61 — Feb  27  63  Com  Sergt 

Fiala,  Anthony — E  Aug  2  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Sergt  First  Lieut 

Fischer,  Charles — A  Sept  17  64 — June  6  65 

Fischer,  John — Dec  30  64 — Jan  n  65  Sixth  N  Y  Cav 

Fish,  Benj  F — F  July  24  61 — June  25  63  Cap  at  Savage's  station  June  62 

Fischer,  Charles  C — C  July  19  61 — Feb  8  63    Cap  at  White  Oak  Swamp 

July  i  62    . 

Fischer,  John — D  July  16  61 — Aug  18  64 
Fisher,  Mayberry  A — C  July  19  61 — Dec  21  62 
Fitterer,  Ludwig — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65     Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63 

Fitzgerald,  Hugh — M  Sept  7  61 — June  27  65  Q  M  Sergt 
Fitzgerald,  James — A  Sept  8  64 — June  7  65 
Fitzgerald,  Patrick — M  Aug  29,  1861 — Oct  17  1864 
Fitzpatrick,  John — A  Aug  16  61 — Aug  22  64 
Fitzpatrick,  John — B  Sept  17  64 — June  27  65 
Flannery,  jerry — B  Sept  14  64 — June  6  65 
Flannigan,  Matthew — B  Aug  30  64 — June  27  65 
Fleming,  Arthur — K  Dec  30  63 — Mar  18  64 
Fliege,  Edward — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 
Flynn,  James — B  July  19  61 — Dec  17  61 
Foley,  Owen — D  Aug  21  61 — Died  Nov  5  63 
Fonrobert,  William — E  Aug  i  64 — June  27  65 
Foote,  Hum  B— A  July  30  61— Died  Oct  16  61 
Forkey,   Russell   P — B  July   19  61 — June  27  65  Cap   Nov   12  61    Corp 

Sergt 

Fosha,  Isaac  L — Dec  29  63 — Feb  8  64  First  Dragoons 
Fowler,  Robert — Dec  13  64 — Dec  21  64  loth  N  Y  Cav 
Fox,  Martin — Feb  27  64 — June  24  64 
Fox,  Ransom — K  Aug  29  61 — Aug  16  64 
Foye,  Albert  A — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Sergt  Second  Lieut 

First  Lieut 
Francke,    Friedrich— G   July   20  61— Dec   7  64    looth    N   Y   V   Cap   at 

Winchester  June  15  63 

Frederick,  Henry — G  Aug  18  64 — June  27  65 

Freeman,  John — A  July  30  61 — Died  of  gun  shot  wound  Oct  18  63 
Freeman.  Lewis — A  Feb  8  64 — June  6  65 
Frese,  Charles— I  Aug  i  61— Oct  23  62 
Frick,  John — April  18  64 — May  4  64  i5th  N  Y  Cav 
Fritz,  Franklin — C  July  19  61 — Tune  27  65  Corp 
Fuchs,  Eugene — G  July  20  61 — Dec  19  62 
Fulkerson,  Smith — K  Aug  12  61 — Aug  16  64 
Fullery,  Emery — A  July  30  61 — Mar  25  64 
Funk,"Wm  H— C  July  19  61— Dec  21  62 

Gaddis,  James — F  Aug   16  61 — Killed  on  picket  near   Springfield   Oct 

22  62 

Gaffney,  Barney— A  Jan  21  64— June  27  65 
Gallagher,  James— F  Aug  16  61— Mar  20  64 
Gallinger,  Max— Nov  23  64— Dec  i  64  68th  N  Y  V 
Gander,  Henry— L  Aug  5  64— June  27  65 
Gardner,  Augustus— D  July  16  61— Oct  29  61 
Gardner,  Leon — Apr  21  64 
Garland,  Silas — B  Mar  30  64 — June  17  65     Wounded  and  captured  at 

Martinsburg  July  25  64    Recap  in  Confederate  hospital 
Garrayham,   Peter— M   Sept  9  61— Killed   Sept  9  64 
Garrison,  John  H— A  July  30  61— June  27  65  Hospital  Steward 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  555 

Garrity,  Michael — D  Aug  16  61 — Jan  31  65  Cap  May  13  64 

Garbin,  John— M  Oct  12  64— Died  Feb  5  65 

Catkins,  Baytey — M  Aug  31  61 — July  21  62 

Gaugh,  Augustus — F  Aug  16  61 — Died  Apr  i  62 

Geelan,  Charles — A  Aug  25  61 — Cap  New  Market  May  13  64 

Gehrig,  Caesar — I  Aug  22  61 — June  18  63 

Gehring,  George — M  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65 — Cap  Shenandoah  Valley 

June  64 
Geiger,  Henry — G  July  20  61 — Died  Nov  29  64  Florence     Cap  Upper- 

ville  Nov  10  62 

Geil,  Wilhelm — E  Apr  5  64 — June  27  65 
Geis,  Andreas — L  Aug  22  61 — Feb  15  62 
Geitz,  William — D  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Bugler 
Gentz,  George — L  Aug  22  61 — Died  Dec  21  61 
Gentz,  Paul — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  i  64  Sergt 
George,  Charles  R — A  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Gerai,  Frederick — E  July  20  61 — Apr  15  63 
Ghaday,  John  D — D  July  16  61 — Aug  16  64 
Giggie,  Ira — M  Sept  3  61 — May  10  62 
Gilbert,  Henry — K  Aug  12  61 — Feb  25  62 

Gilbert,  John  M — K  Dec  17  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Winchester  Apr  24  64 
Gilbert,  Roswell — K  Aug  12  61 — Dec  3  62 
Giles,  Edward — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Gill,  James — D  July  16  61 — June  29  65  Cap  New  Market  May  13  64 
Gillespie,  Patrick — C  Sept  u  61 — June  23  62 
Gillespie,  Wm  F — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Gilligan,  Patrick — M  Sept  2  61 — June  27  65 
Gilmore,  Robert — C  July  19  61 — June  7  62 
Gleason,  John — H  Aug  16  61 — Feb  24  62 

Gleeson,  James  I — B  July  30  61 — Wounded  at  Upperville  Died  May  /  63 
Gleich,  William— E  July  20  61— Cap  May   13  64     Died  June  6  64  at 

Andersonville. 

Glossop,  Charles— C  July  19  61— Wounded  May  7  63     Died  July  13  63 
Gluesing,  Henry — L  August  22  61 — Aug  22  64 
Goddard,  Otis  M — F  July  24  61 — Aug  8  64  Cap  Springfield  Oct  62 
Coin,  John — F  Feb  22  64 — June  27  65  Corp 
Goitz,  Lorenze — L  Oct  28  64 — June  27  65 
Golden,  James — B  July  19  61 — Feb  24  62  Sergt 
Golding,  Stephen — C  Aug  21  61 — Mar  i  63 
Goodall,  Maximillian — E  Oct  17  64 — June  27  65 
Gorman,  John — M  Sept  9  61 — June  27  65 
Gosling,  Francis — E  no  date — Oct  9  63 

Goublemann,  Edward  J — D  Feb  27  62 — June  27  65  Sergt  Second  Lieut 
Goublemann,  Henry  J— D  Feb  27  62— June  27  65  Sergt 
Gougenhan,  Albert — L  Mar  9  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

Grabb,  Johan — I  July  9  64 — June  27  65 
Gram,   Charles — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  63 
Grampp,  Edward — I  Mar  14  64 — May  31  65 
Granger,  Henry  W — K  Aug  12  61 — Dec  19  62  First  Lieut  Res  to  become 

Major  Seventh  Mich  Cav 
Grant,  William — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Graves,  M  S  Edward — K  Feb  7  64 — June  27  65 
Gray,  William  A — B  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 
Gray,  William  F — C  July  19  61 — Dec  21  62  Sergt 
Grayston,  Edwin — C  Apr  4  64 — June  28  65 
Green,  George  S— B  Apr  1 1  64— June  27  65  Cap  July  9  64  at  Monocacy 

Bridge 


556  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Grief,  Peter — L  Aug  22  61 — Dec  20  62 

Grenyer,  Edward — C  July  19  61 — Sept  62 

Gribbe,  Henry — E  July  20  61 — Jan  28  63 

Grimme,  Ludwig — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64 

Grohman,  Paul — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64 

Groves,  James — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Cedar  Creek  Aug  i 

64     Sergt 
Grovestien,    Townsend — B    Aug   21    61 — Cap   June    15    63      Killed   by 

accident  Mar  23  64 
Grushlin,  August — I  Aug  10  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Haydensville  Mar 

12  65 

Grunnigan,  Anthony — D  Aug  21  61 — Cap  at  Winchester  June  63 
Guide,  John — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 

Hass,  Edward — E  Apr  i  64 — Died  July  28  64 

Hass,  John — L  Apr  5  64     Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64     Died  in 

prison  at  Andersonville  Oct  12  64 
Hacker,  Edward  W — B  Mar  i  64 — June  27  65 
Hagan,  James — F  Mar  28  64 — June  27  65 
Haggens,   Charles  A — B  July   19  61 — June  29  65   Cap  at  Romney  Oct 

2  62  Corp 

Haggerty,  John— B  July  19  61— Aug  20  64  Com  Sergt 
Haid,  Charles  W — A  Dec  30  63 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64    Died 

in  prison  at  Florence  Jan  9  65 
Hait,  Luther — H  Aug  5  61 — Captured  at  Mt  Jackson  Dec  23  63     Died 

in  prison  at  Andersonville  Aug  4  64 
Hall,  Hillsgas — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Hall,  Theodore— A  Mar  2  64— Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Died  at 

Annapolis  Jan  6  65 

Hall,  William  D — C  Aug  21  61 — Second  Lieut  Res  June  5  65 
Hallet,  Marshall— A  Sept  26  64— June  6  65 
Hallighan,  William — D  Feb  8  64 — June  27  65  Cap  May  9  64 
Hallowell,  Charles  K — C  Aug  26  61 — July  27  62 
Hamburger,  John — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63 

Hamilton,  Hiram  B — K  Aug  12  61 — Sept  13  62 

Hamlin,  Henry — D  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Hamlin,   John   K — K  Aug   12   61 — Dec   29  62    Second   Lieut   Seventh 

Mich  Cav 

Hammond,  George  W — Apr  i  64 — Sept  17  64 
Hamoricier,  Charles — I  Aug  i  61 — Died  Oct  6  61  First  Lieut 
Hanna,  Francis — M  Aug  29  61 — Feb  15  62 
Hansen,  John — I  Aug  i  61 — Feb  14  62  Bugler 
Hansen,  Lars — I  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13 

64  Sergt 

Hanson,  Wm  H — C  July  19  61 — Res  Dec  26  62  First  Lieut 
Hardeland,  Henry — L  Aug  22  61 — July  18  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

Hardy,    Patrick — A  Aug  29  64 — June   27  65 

Harkins,  Daniel  H — D  July  16  64 — Oct  6  64  Captain  Major 

Harris,  William— H  Oct  26  64— June  27  65 

Harris,  William  J— K  Aug  12  61— June  27  65 

Harrison,  Andrew  J — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Williamsport 

July  10  63  Sergt 

Hart,  Edgar— F  Apr  i  64— June  27  65 
Hartigan,  John  J — B  Sept  14  64 — June  6  65     Cap  at  Beaver  Dam  Mar 

15  65 

Hartmann,  Friedrich — I  Aug  i  61 — Feb  14  62 
Hartog,  Henry — L  Apr  i  62 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  557 

Hartung,  Daniel  J — G  Feb  i  62 — June  27  65 

Hartz,  Philip — L  Aug  22  61 — Feb  14  62 

Harvey,  John  V — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  63  Sergt 

Hasselbacher,  John — L  Feb  29  64 — June  27  65 
Hatrich,  Henry — L  Dec  31  63 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

Hatfield,  William — F  Apr  28  64 — June  27  65 

Hatton,  Thomas — F  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 

Hauff,  William — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65 

Haurancl.  August — G  July  20  61 — Nov  28  62  Captain  Major 

Hauser,  Charles — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 

Hauser,  Charles — E  Apr  13  64 — June  27  65 

Hauser,  Herman — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  22  64  Sergt 

Hawkins,  Jeremiah  C — Sept  30  64  Commissioned  in  First  U  S  C  Cav 

Hayle,  Thomas — H  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

14  63 

Haynes,  William — D  July  16  61 — Killed  in  skirmish  at  Berryville  May 

6  64 

Haywood,  Lucius  M — A  July  30  61 — Oct  2  61 
Healy,  Thomas — B  Sept  5  64 — Aug  5  65 
Heath,  \Vm  H  H — K  Aug  12  61 — Aug  16  64 
Heathe,  Washington — H  Dec  8  64 — June  27  65 
Heft,  Daniel — G  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Com  Sergt 
Heidenhain,  Henry — I  Aug  i  61 — Apr  14  62 
Heigie,  John — H  Aug  n  61 — Dec  20  62 
Heil,  Stephen — I  Aug  16  64 — Died  Feb  25  65 
Heimann,  Augustus — L  Aug  22  61 — Mar  30  63  Wounded  at  Harrison's 

Landing  July  63 

Heine,  Frederic — I  Aug  19  64 — June  27  65 
Heinemann,    Charles — L   Aug  22   61 — June  27  65    Cap   at   Winchester 

June  15  63 
Heinrich,  William — L  Aug  22  61 — Apr  15  63  Cap  at  Newtown  Feb  26 

63 
Helberg,  James — F  May  14  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  White  House  Mar 

26  65 
Helff,    Conrad — I   Aug   i    61 — Cap   at    New    Market   May    13    Died   in 

prison  at  Andersonville  Oct  24  64 
Hemholz,  Lewis — E  Jan  22  64 — June  2  65 
Henckeiden,  Christian — I  Sept  29  64 — July  19  65 
Henderson,  Robert — C  Sept  2  64 — June  27  65 
Hendrich,    Friedrich — G   July    20   61 — Mar    12   65    Cap    at    Winchester 

June  15  63  First  Lieut  Captain 
Hennessey,  Thomas — M  Sept  6  61 — Aug  28  64 
Hennessy,  Edward — M  Aug  31  61 — June  27  65  Veterinary  Surgeon 
Henry,  Charles  P — K  Aug  29  61 — June  27  65 
Henry,  James — D  Mar  19  61 — June  27  65 
Henrys,  William — M  Aug  16  61 — Dec  21  61 
Hepke,  Frederick  H — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Herbert,  George  H — H  Aug  16  61 — Feb  28  62  Second  Lieut 
Herold,  Henry — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65 
Her  re,  John — G  Mar  2  64 — June  27  65 
Herrick,  Sidney  L — Sept  13  61 — Sept  29  61  Ass't  Surgeon 
Herrmann,  Franz — E  Aug  2  61 — June  27  65 
Herrmann,  John — I  Aug  i  61 — July  5  62 
Hertzog,  Robert  H  O — I  Aug   i  61 — June  27  65  First  Lieut  Captain 

Cap  at  Winchester 
Herzfeld,  Moritz — I  Aug  i  61 — Mar  8  62 


558  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Hess,  Eugene — G  Oct  12  64 — June  27  65 

Hessel,  Henry— E  July  20  61— Aug  18  64  Cap  on  picket  at  Kernstown 

Feb  26  63 

Heuser,  Conrad — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  23  64 
Heyer,  William — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Com  Sergt 
Heyne,  Charles — I  Jan  21  64 — June  27  65 

Hickey,  James— M  Sept  7  61— May  30  65  Wounded  and  Cap  June  5  64 
Hickey,  John  A — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Hickey,  Thomas— F  Aug  16  61— Feb  16  62 
Hickey,   Thomas  F — M   Mar  23  64 — June  27  65   Cap  in  Luray  Valley 

Oct  2  64 

Hicks,  Charles — Sept  13  64 — May  7  65 
Hidden,  Henry  B — H  Aug  5  61 — Killed  Mar  9  62  in  action  at  Sangster's 

Station  First  Lieut 

Higgins,  Edward — M  Sept  13  64 — June  6  65 
Higgins,  Henry — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Loudon  July 

16  64 
Higgins,  John — A  July  30  61 — Cap  in  Luray  Valley  Oct  2  64    Supposed 

to  have  died  in  prison  at  Andersonville 
Higgins,  Robert  E — B  Nov  19  61 — Mar  10  62 
Hill,  Lewis — Aug  25  64 — Oct  n  65 
Hill,  Samuel — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65 
Hill,  Wrilliam— B  July  19  61— July  18  64  Cap  at  Winchester  Apr  24  64 

Q  M  Sergt 

Hill,  William— K  Aug  12  61— Dec  3  62 
Hillenbrandt,  Charles — L  Aug  22  61 — May  28  62 
Hilsdorf,  Conrad — I  Aug  3  61 — June  27  64 
Hines,  Francis — C  July  19  61 — Oct  24  62 
Himmler,  Franz — E  Mar  22  64 — June  27  65 

Hind,  John  R — D  July  16  61 — Captured  at  White  Oak  Swamp  July  I  62 
Hinkledy,  Christian — Sept  29  64 — July  19  65 
Hinton,  A  Chalmers — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  First  Sergt  Regt'l  Q  M 

Sergt  Sergt-Major  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut  Captain  Br  Major 
Hinze,  Ferdinand — I  Feb  19  64 — June  27  65 
Hinze,  Heinrich — I  Aug  I  61 — June  27  65 
Hirlinger,  John — G  Aug  22  61 — June  27  63  Cap  June  62 
Hirsch,  Philip — G  Aug  12  61 — Mar  18  64 
Kitchens.   Thomas  A — C  Aug  21   61 — June  27  65   Wounded   in  action 

at  Winchester  July  24  64  Corp 

Hobart,  Benj  F — C  July  19  61 — Aug  18  64  Corporal 
Hockermeyer,  John — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Dispatch  Station 

June  27  62  Cap  at  Dicksville  Dec  9  64 
Hoagland,  John  Henry — F  July  18  61 — Killed  in  action  Nov  16  63  at 

Mt  Jackson  Corp 

Hoffman,  Adam — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Hoffman,  George  S — F  Aug  21  61 — Sept  3  62  Wounded  in  action  near 

Games'  Mills  June  27  62     Cap  near  James  river  June  30  62 
Hoffman,  William — G  Mar  8  62 — Mar  18  64  Captured 
Hofmann,  Friederich — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Bugler 
Hogan,  John — D  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 

Hogan,  John  P — A  Apr  10  62 — Feb  25  63  Cap  at  James  river  July  2  62 
Holden,  Henry  T— K  Aug  29  61— June  27  65  Regt'l  Q  M  Sergt 
Holland,  James— D  Dec  18  63— June  27  65 
Hollenbeck,  Jacob — A  Aug  21  61 — Oct  10  61 
Holmes,  Henry — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64  Wounded  in  action  Feb  26 

63  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Holmes,  William  W — F  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Holt,  Henry — A  Aug  16  61 — Aug  15  64  Wounded  in  action  July  18  64 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  559 

Hombaum,  Charles — L  Aug  22  61 — Sept  20  62 

Hommaine,  Joseph — I  Aug  i  61 — Oct  28  63  Cap  at  Winchester  June  is 

63  Tr  to  V  R  C 

Honnelly,  Michael — M  Sept  2  61 — Apr  2  63 
Hood,  Francis — C  Sept  2  64 — June  6  65 
Hope,  Henry  T— Dec  30  64— Jan  n  65  Sixth  N  Y  Cav 
Hope,  Joseph — K  Aug  12  61 — Nov  12  61 
Hope,  Lucius  S — M  Sept  6  61 — Aug  16  62 
Hopkins,  George  R — A  July  30  61 — July  14  62 
Hopp,  Adam — G  Sept  26  64 — June  6  65 
Horn,  John — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65 
Horn,  Joseph — M  Sept  3  61 — June  27  65 
Hornfisher,  Joseph — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

Hornkamp,  Wilhelm — E  Sept  17  64 — June  6  65 
Horrocks,  Robert — A  Jan  19  64 — June  27  65 
Horton,  Daniel — M  Sept  3  61 — Feb  22  62 
Hossemlopp,  Philip — I  Feb  22  64 — June  27  65  Corp 
Hotchkiss,  Frederick  E — B  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  Sergeant-major 

Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 
Howard,  James — K  Aug  29  61 — June  27  65 
Howell,  Abram  B — A  Sept  12  61 — June  9  64  Corp 
Howell,  Henry  B — A  Sept  12  61 — Died  Jan  n  62 
Howes,  John — M  Nov  17  64 — June  27  65 
Howison,  William — D  Aug  21  61 — Aug  24  64 
Hoyt,  Edward — H  Aug  5  61 — Mar  22  63 
Huber,  August — Apr  26  64 — Nov  16  65  San  Francisco 
Huber,  Casper — I  Aug  17  64 — June  27  65 
Hudson,  Charles — H  Dec  10  64 — June  25  65 
Hudson,  James  A — H  Aug  5  61 — Aug  18  64  Corp 
Hughes,  John — M  Feb  25  64 — Died  July  16  64 
Hughes,  Michael — M  Feb  19  64 — June  27  65 
Huhn,   Williams — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63  Q  M  Sergt 

Hulse,  George  C — M  Aug  3  61 — Jan   13  63 
Humann,  Adam — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  16  64 
Hummel,  Henry — L  Sept  30  64 — June  5  65 
Humphrey,  John  D — Dec  21  63 — Jan  20  64  First  N  Y  V  C 
Humphries,  William  C — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Hunsbarger,   Isaac  H — C  July   19  61 — June  27  65   Cap  at  Winchester 

Apr  24  64 

Hunt,  Charles — B  Aug  9  64 — June  27  65 
Hunt,  Marcus — Mar  3  64 — May  7  65  Hart's  Island 
Hurche,  Herman — E  July  20  61 — June  17  65  Wounded  in  action  near 

Port  Republic  Sept  27  64  Corp  Sergt  Mower  General  Hospital 
Huril,  Henry — M  Apr  26  64 — June  21  65  Cap  in  Luray  Valley  Oct  2 

64 

Hurley,  John  C — M  Mar  16  64 — June  27  65 
Hurst,  Alexander — A  Jan  19  64 — June  27  65 
Hyler,  James — K  Feb  25  64 — June  27  65 

Irving,  Joseph — A  Aug  16  61 — Aug  22  64 

Isaacs,  Joseph — Feb  27  64 — Mar  24  64 

Ives,  Charles  P— H  Aug  5  61— Sept  18  64  Sergt  Captain  U  S  C  T 

Jackson,  Harry — B  July  15  64 — Cap  Dec  22  64  Not  since  heard  from 
Jackson,  John — C  Apr  6  64 — June  27  65 
Jackson,  Levi  G — K  Aug  12  61 — Aug  16  64  Corp 
Jacobs,  John  G — B  July  19  61 — Mar  10  62 


560  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Jacobs,  Lemuel — G  Feb  2  64 — June  27  65 

James,  Thomas — C  Aug  26  61 — Killed  in  action  at  Bunker  Hill  Sept  3 

64  Corp 

Janowiez,  Wladislow — L  Aug  20  64 — June  5  65 
Jarvis,  William  H — A  Feb  29  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

Jenkins,  Michael — B  Mar  8  64 — June  27  65 
Jenks,  James — F  Apr  2  64 — June  27  65 
Johnson,  Charles — D  Sept  20  64 — June  6  65 
Johnson,  Ensign  A — B  Sept  i  61 — Aug  8  62  Cap  at  the  Accotink  Nov 

12  61     Prisoner  in  Richmond. 

Johnson,  Henry  R — F  July  24  61 — Died  Oct  23  62 

Johnson,  John  H — K  Dec  30  63 — June  27  65 

Johnson,    Lafayette   F — K   Aug    12   61 — Dec    13   62   First   Lieut   Ninth 

Mich  Cav 

Johnson,  Thomas — D  Apr  25  64 — June  27  65 
Johnson,  Thomas — F  Aug  16  61 — Jan  13  62 
Jones,    Abram — A   July   30   61 — Sept   30   64    Captain    Twice   wounded 

Twice  captured  and  escaped 
Jones,  Henry — A  Jan  5  64 — Cap  at  Cedar  Creek  Oct  19  64  Died  Mar  28 

65 

Jones,  James  N — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Jones,  Joab — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Jones,  Simon  H — F  July  24  61 — Feb  8  64 
Jones,  William — M  Mar  17  64 — June  27  65 

Kainer,  Leonhardt — L  Aug  22  61 — Nov  10  64 

Kaiser,  John — I   Aug  i   61 — Mar  5  65   Cap  at   Martinsburg  Dec  9  64 

Kaler,  Peter — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65 

Kalish,  Herman — D  July  16  61 — Jan  30  63 

Kane,  John — M  Sept  3  61 — June  27  65 

Kantorowitz,  Samuel — K  Nov  i  61 — July  20  64 

Karney,  Martin — H  Aug  21  61 — Aug  18  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June  13  63 

Karr,  Patrick — D  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 

Kass,  Ernest — B  Mar  19  64 — June  27  65 

Kast,  Philip — L  Aug  22  61 — Feb  22  62 

Katzrung,  Thomas — I  Aug  22  61 — Sept  18  63  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

13  63 

Kaufmann,  John — I   Aug  i   61 — Drowned  at  Harrison's  Landing  July 

31  62 

Kaufmann,  John — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65 
Kayser,  Charles — I  Aug  10  64 — June  27  64 
Kearney,  Miles — M  Sept  10  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Keefer,  Edward  L — D  Mar  18  64 — June  27  65 
Keeler,  Alexander — K  Jan  21  64 — Nov  29  64  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64  Died  in  prison  at  Florence 
Keeler,  Jacob — L  Mar  7  64 — June  27  65 
Keiffer,  Joseph — E  Oct  16  64 — June  27  65 
Keisler,  Charles  R— A  July  30  61— Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63  Par 

Died  Apr  27  64 
Keller,  Alexander — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

Kellogg,  Emerson — D  Aug  21  61 — Nov  2  61 
Kelly,  James — A  Dis  to  accept  commission  as  Second  Lieut 
Kelly,  John — F  Aug  16  61 — Died  of  wounds  Aug  18  63 
Kelly,  Rush— F  July  24  61— June  27  65 
Kelly,  Timothy— C  July  19  61— Sept  10  63 
Kelly,  William— M  Sept  4  61— Aug  24  65 
Kellogg,  John  W — K  Aug  12  6T — Killed  in  action  at  Piedmont  June  8  63 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  561 

Kempel.   Casper — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65   Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63  Corp 

Kendel,  Jacob — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64 
Kenn,  Christopher — C  Aug  22  64 — June  6  65 
Kennedy,  Ransome — M  Sept  7  64 — June  6  65 
Kennedy,  Robert — M  Feb  19  64 — June  29  65  at  Philadelphia 
Kenney,   Thomas — M   Aug  29  61 — June  27  65 
Kent,  John  F — D  July  16  61 — Aug  16  64  Corp  Sergt 
Kent,  William — A  July  30  61 — Dec   18  62  Regt'l   Com   Sergt  reduced 

to  ranks 

Kennon,  Thomas  M —  Feb  26  64 — May  7  65  Hart's  Island 
Kerr,  John  Morris — B  Feb  19  62 — Nov  30  62  Battalion  Sergt-Major 
Kerrigan,  Rogers — D  Aug  16  61 — Feb  3  65  Cap  at  New  Market  Nov 

18  63 

Kerton,  Levi — F  Aug  21  61 — Apr  13  63 
Kessel,  Stephen — I  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 

Keyes,  James  F — B  Apr  29  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  White  House  Land 
ing  Mar  26  65 

Kidd,  John — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65 
Kieffer,  John — I  July  20  64 — June  27  65 
Kieule,  Michael — I  Aug  i  61 — Apr  62 
Killion,  Peter — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65 
Kimberly,  Dennis  A — B  Aug  16  61 — Nov  8  61 
Kimmings,  George  W — F  Apr  30  64 — June  27  65 
Kingsland,   Wm   W — B  July   19  61 — Jan  23   63   First   Sergt   Battalion 

Sergeant  Major 

King,  John — C  Mar  25  64 — Died  Nov  18  64 
King,  Owen — M  Sept  15  64 — June  6  65 
King,  Walter  I— H  Aug  16  61— Oct  5  61 
Kingsbury,  Henry  E — K  Mar  n  64 — June  27  65 
Kingsland,  Geo  W — A  July  30  61 — Aug  18  63 
Kinnir,  Alfred  W— F  Aug  16  61— July  28  62 
Kinyon,  Jonas — F  July  24  61 — Dec  2  61 
Kirchhoff,  David — L  Aug  22  61 — Apr  i  64 
Kirchner,  George — E  Mar  i  64 — June  27  65 
Klamann,  Henry — G  Nov  23  64 — June  27  65 
Kleber,  Edward — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65 
Klees,  August — I  August  i  61 — June  27  65 
Klein,  Henry — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  22  64 
Kleinschmidt,  Charles — M  Sept  6  61 — Died  Sept  24  63 
Klingel,  Charles — I  Aug  22  61 — June  i  63 
Knapp,    Frank — B    Apr    14   64 — June   27   65    Taken    prisoner   while   in 

hospital  at  Martinsburg  Aug  31  64 
Knapp,   Jacob— D   Dec  28  63— July    17   65   Armory    Surgical   Hospital 

Washington 
Kneif,  Ludwig  E — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  First  Sergt  Second 

Lieut 
Knerr,   Jacob — I    Aug  22   61 — Died   Dec   10  64  on   Hospital   transport 

Cap  at  Mt  Jackson  May  13  64 

Kniebusch,  Herman — L  Aug  22  61 — Jan  12  63  Corp 
Knight,  Edwin — K  Aug  12  61 — Dec  29  62  Lieut  Seventh  Mich  Cav 
Knip,  Hyronimus — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 

Knittel,  Louis — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Knoll,  Charles — E  July  30  61 — July  19  64 
Knopf,  Edward — E  July  20  61 — Nov  29  61 

Knowles,  Emerick — C  Aug  26  61 — Sept  18  63  Lieut  in  2ist  Pa  Cav 
Knowles,    Oliver   B — C   July    19  61 — Corp    Sergt    First    Sergt    Second 
Lieut  First  Lieut  Dis  to  accept  promotion  in  21  st  Pa  Cav  Major 
Lieut  Col  Br  Brig  Gen 


562  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Koch,  Anton — E  July  20  61 — Oct  10  62  Chief  Bugler 

Kock,  Ludwig — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64  Cap  at  Kernstown  Feb  26  63 

Kohler,  August— E  July  20  61— June  23  63  Tr  to  V  R  C 

Kolbeck,  Charles — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  22  64 

Koenig,  Gottfried — I  Aug  22  61 — June  15  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 
Koopman,    Carston — B    Aug  21    61 — Cap     Died   in   prison   at   Florence 

Oct  21  64 

Korter,  Christian — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  22  64 
Kraft,   Frederick — I  Mar  21  64 — June  27  65 
Krathawie,  Frank — L  Oct  31  64 — June  27  65 
Kraus,  Herrmann — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65 
Krause,  Charles — L  Apr  4  64 — June  27  65 
Krause,  David  M — C  July  19  61 — Aug  19  62  Sergt 
Krauss,    Henry — I    Aug   i    61 — Aug  22  64 
Kretzinger,  John — G  July  20  61 — Aug  22  64 
Kretzner,  Stephen — G  July  20  61 — Died  Dec  14  61 
Krieg,  Ernest — L  Aug  22  61 — July  5  65  Cap  at  Savage's  Station  June 

30  62  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Kriete,  John — L  Aug  .22  61 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Died  in 

prison  at  Andersonville  Nov  21  64 
Kroettinger,  Michael — A  Nov  29  64 — June  27  65 
Krone,  Christian — L  Sept  12  61 — Apr  24  63  First  Sergt 
Kroming,  Wm  I — A  Dec  28  63 — Cap  May  13  64  at  New  Market 
Kruger,  August — I  Feb  24  64 — June  27  65 
Krumback,  Christopher — M  Aug  28  61 — May  24  63  Bugler 
Krynizki,  Joseph  D — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 

Captain 
Kuppinger,  Christian — E  July  20  61 — May  19  62 

Lachman,  Moritz — E  Sept  6  64 — July  8  65 

Lake,  Edward — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  First  Sergt  Second  Lieut 

Lallas,   Peter — B  Aug  n  64 — June  27  65   Cap  at  Beaver  Dam  station 

March  15  65 

Lamoury,  David — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Lancaster,  Washington— C  July  19  61— Apr  13  62 
Landan,  Frederick — A  Sept  6,  64 — June  6  65 
Lane,  Ernest — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Lane,  Henry — D  Jan  13  64 — June  27  65 
Lange,  Helmuth — L  Aug  22  61 — May  12  62 
Langenbalim,  Sylvester — G  July  20.  61 — Sept  i  62 
Lansing,  Edward — A  July  30  61 — Dec  5  63  First  Sergt 
Large,  Thomas — M  Sept  4  61 — Jan  i  64  Cap  Frederick  Sept  13  62 
Lasham,  Albert— Sept  26  64  Tr  Oct  n  64  to  First  N  Y  V  C 
Latkowsky,  Charles — L  Aug  22  61 — Feb  15  65 
Lauer,  Cornelius — G  July  20  61 — Sept  6  62 
Lautenschlager,  August— E  July  20  61— Aug  16  64 
Lauter,  Anton — E  July  20  61 — Aug  7  62 
Lauterbach,  George — I  July  30  64 — June  27  65 
La  Valley,  Peter— M  Sept  7  64— June  6  65 
Laverty,  William  K — D  July  16  61 — April  24  63  Wounded  Winchester 

Feb  10  63  First  Lieut 

Lawrence,  Dittle— E  June  27  64— Died  Feb  18  65 
Lawrence,  John— D  Aug  21  61— Feb  15  62 
Lawton,  Richard  E— F  July  24  61— June  27  65 
Lax,  Frank  B— H  Aug  16  61— June  27  65 
Lea,  Andrew— I  Aug  i  6 1— June  27  65  Bugler 
Lear,  Charles— E  Jan  4  65— Tune  27  65 
Leavitt,  Thomas  R— A  July  30  61— Aug  22  64— First  Lieut  Capt 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  563 

Leber,  John — I  Aug  i  61 

Ledward,  Robert — M  Sept  14  61 — June  27  65  Corp 

Lee,  Richard  H — B  July  19  61 — Jan  27  62  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 

Leffert,  Henry — I  Aug  i  61 — Jan  24  65  Cap  Woodstock  Feb  15  63  Cap 

New  Market  May  13  64 
Legab,  Alexander — I  Aug  i  61 — Dec  20  62 
Lehde,  Christian — L  Sept  12  61 — Aug  22  64 
Leigle,  Christian — L  Feb  20  64 — June  27  65  Corp 
Leisnitzer,  Henry — L  March  14  64 — June  27  65  C  Sergt 
Lengerke,  Alex — E  July  20  61 — June  7  63  First  Lieut 
Lent,  Lewis — A  Mar  15  64 — June  27  65 
Leonard,  Wm — H  Feb  26  64 — June  27  65 

Leopold,  John — B  Dec  21  63 — June  27  65  Cap  New  Market  May  13  64 
Letterle,  Frederick — H  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 
Leutzinger,  Fridolin — I  Aug  i  61 — May  29  62 
Lewis,  Eugene — H  Aug  5  61 — May  19  65  First  Lieut  Captain 
Lewis,  Jefferson — H  Aug  5  61 — Feb  13  63 
Lewis,  John — I  Sept  10  64 — June  6  65 
Lewis,  Morgan — C  July  19  61 — Aug  18  64 
Lewis.  Preston — A  Dec  23  63 — June  27  65 
Lickman,  Gunther — I  Aug  i  61 — May  12  62 
Lindsey,  Alen — K  Aug  12  61 — Died  Aug  19  62  in  hospital 
Lindsey,  James — M  Sept  6  61 — June  27  65 

Liscarbo,  Thomas — D  Aug  21  61 — Feb  i  65  Cap  New  Market  May  13  64 
Lloyd,  John — E  Feb  i   64 — July  27  65 
Locke,  Christian — E  April  5  64 — June  15  65 
Loehr,  Adolph — L  Aug  22  61 — April  i  64  First  Lieut  Adjutant 
Loewingring,  Milius — I  Feb  8  62 — Died  July  26  64  of  wounds 
Longshore,  Edwin— Dec  28  63  Tr  Mar  8  64  to  ipth  N  Y  Cav 
Loomis,  Doddridge — F  July  24,  61 — June  27  65 
Lord,  Thomas  J — M  Sept  9  61 — Sept  19  62  Captain 
Lorey,  George — H  Mar  8  64 — June  27  65 
Lowenhaupt,  Wilhelm — G  July  20  61 — May  8  62 
Lubinsky,  Wm — L  Jan  13  64 — June  27  65 
Luders,  Ferdinand — G  July  20  61 — Jan  24  65  Cap  Strasburg  Nov  26  62 

Cap  Woodstock  Feb  26  63  Cap  New  Market  May  13  64 
Ludke,  Albert— I  Aug  i  61— May  11  63 
Ludke,  Fred— L  Sept  28  64— June  5  65 
Ludwig,  Heinrich — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65  .Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63 

Ludwig,  Martin — L  Mar  14  64 — June  27  65 
Ludwig,  Paul — G  Oct  13  64 — June  27  65 
Lukas,  Philip — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64 
Luney,  Richard — A  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 
Lumis,  George  W — H  Aug  5  61 — Oct  5  61 
Lumphrey,  Oliver — C  July  19  61 — July  24  65  Wounded  at  Whipponic 

Creek  Apr  3  65  Corp  Sergt  Sergt  Major  First  Lieut 
Lung,  Antony — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65 
Lust,  Adolphus — H  Oct  21  64 — June  27  65 
Lutes,  John  D — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Occoquan  ferry  Nov 

2  62  Corp 

Lyna,  James  A — D  July  16  61 — Feb  7  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Lynch,  James — H  Aug  16  61 — June  10  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Lynch,  Jeremiah — H  Apr  12  64 — June  27  65 
Lynch,  John — M  Feb  18  64 — Died  of  fever  July  30  64 
Lynchlin,  Franz — E  Feb  19  64 — Cap  at  New  Market  Died  in  prison  at 

Andersonville  Aug  16  64 


564  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Maahs,   August — I   Aug   i   61 — Dec  20  62 

Mack,  Valentine — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  First  Sergt  Second 

Lieut  First  Lieut 

Mackey,   Robert — C  July   19  61 — Dec  15  62 
MacWilliams,  John — A  Aug  21  61 — Aug  22  64  Corp 
Madden,  Martin — A  Feb  I  64 — June  23  65  Cap  at  Bloomer's  Gap  July 

27  64 
Magadan,  Andrew — C  July  19  61 — Cap  scouting  Mt  Jackson  Nov  16 

63     Died  in  Andersonville  Aug  4  64  Corp  Sergt 
Maher,  John — B  Sept  7  64 — June  6  65 
Mahon,  Samuel — M  Aug  31  61 — Dis  Mar  27  62  G  C  M 
Mahon,  Thomas — H  Aug  16  61 — Apr  13  63 
Mahoney,  Florence — B  Sept  2  64 — June  6  65 
Maier,  Albert — I  Aug  5  64 — June  27  65 

Malmquish,  Gustav — I  Aug  22  61 — Dec  23  64  Cap  at  Smithfield 
Malone,  Thomas — H  Feb  16  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Port  Republic  Sept 

26  64 

Maloney,  John — M  Feb  18  64 — June  27  65 
Mandorff,  Fred  W — G  Mar  2  64 — June  27  65 
Manhattan,  Michael — F  July  24  61 — Wounded  and  Cap  May  63 
Manion,  Kierman — H  Feb  27  64 — June  27  65 
Mankedik,  George — D  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Greenville  June 

10  64 

Mann,  Christian  J — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Com  Sergt 
Mann,  Nehemiah — A  July  30  61 — Nov  27  62  Super  Second  Lieut 
Mansfield,  John  M — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Manuel,  Charles— C  July  19  61  Tr  Sept  14  63  to  V  R  C 
Manuel,  Ernst — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65 
Mara,  Wm— M  Apr  9  64— Tr  Dec  28  64  to  looth  N  Y  V 
Maran,  Owen — M  Sept  13  64 — June  6  65 

Marder,  Jules — E  July  20  61 — Nov  i  63  Hospital  at  Martinsburg 
Marian,  Michael — A  Aug  25  61 — Oct  31  62 
Markmann,  Henry — L  Aug  27  61 — Killed  in  action  at  Woodstock  May 

3i  64 

Marlow,  Charles — H  Aug  30  64 — June  27  65 
Marple,  Samuel — C  July  19  61 — July  14  62 

Marshall,  Michael — I  Aug  i  61 — Missing  Sept  28  62  at  New  Creek 
Marston,  Henry  C — A  Mar  21  64 — May  20  65 
Marston,  John  H — H  Mar  24  62 — Apr  4  63 
Martin,  Friedrich — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64 
Martin,  John — Dec  31  61 — June  10  65 
Martin,  John  H — F  Aug  30  64 — June  6  65 
Martin,  Thomas  B — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Martin,  Thomas  J — K  Aug  29  61 — June  27  65 
Martin,  Wilson — K  Aug  12  61 — Died  Dec  2  62  in  Hospital 
Martindale,  Franklin  G — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Second  Lieut  First 

Lieut  Captain  Major 
Mason,  George — M  Sept  6  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  at  Piedmont  June 

5  64  Sergt 

Mason,  Heron— K  Aug  12  61— Dec  27  62 
Massey,  James — D  Dec  19  63 — June  27  65 
Masters,  Michael — D  Aug  21  61 — Jan  19  65  Cap  July  15  64  at  Harper's 

Ferry 

Maston,  John — F  Aug  30  64 — June  6  65 

Matterne,  Albert— G  Mar  18  62— July  63  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Matzen,  John — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Maxlow,  Samuel  H— B  Mar  10  64— June  27  65  Cap  at  Beaver  Dam  Mar 

15  65  Corp 
May,  Christopher— B  July  19  61— June  27  65  Sergt 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  565 

May,  Henry — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Staunton  May  64 

May,  Peter — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  in  action  at  Opequon 

Creek  June  13  63  Cap  at  Bunker  Hill  Oct  12  64 
Mayo,  John — A  Dec  30  63 — Oct  20  64  Des 
McCabe,  John — M  Aug  16  61 — Died  June  14  65 
McCann,  Robert — A  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
McCarthy,  David — D  Dec  2  63 — June  27  65 
McCarthy,  Garrett— B  Oct  7  64— June  27  65 

McCarthy,  John — F  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  in  action  Bugler 
McCarthy,  Michael— Dec  29  64— Tr  Jan  11  65  to  Sixth  N  Y  Cav 
McCarthy,  Thomas — M  Aug  31  61 — Aug  28  64  Cap  Feb  28  63 
McCarty,  John — Dec  27  64 — Tr  Dec  30  64  to  93rd  N  Y  V 
McCauley,  John — M  Aug  31  61 — June  27  65 
McClellan,  John  W — C  July  19  61 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Par 

Died  Mar  29  65 

McCollum,  Emmit — K  Mar  24  64 — June  27  65 

McComb,  Frederick — I  Feb  27  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Frederick  July  8  64 
McConnaughy,  Franklin — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  Sergt  Major 

First  Lieut  Captain 

McCormack,  Richard — M  Sept  6  64 — June  6  65 
McCormick,  Joseph — F  July  24  61 — Dec  4  61 
McCort,  Elias — M  Sept  21  64 — June  6  65 
McCrae,  John — F  Aug  15  64 — June  6  65 
McCrae,  John — F  July  24  61 — May  27  62  Blacksmith 
McCue,  John — B  Aug  21  61 — Sept  5  62 
McDermott,  John — D  July  16  61 — Aug  16  64 
McDermott,  Peter — M  Aug  31  61 — Oct  22  61 
McDonald,  Duncan — F  Aug  I  64 — June  27  65 
McEwin,  Daniel — D  July  16  61 — Mar  31  63  Sergt 
McFee,  John — B  Sept  i  64 — June  6  65 
McGrath,  John — D  July  16  61 — Aug  6  64  Corp 
McGuiness,  Michael — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
McGuire,  Martin  H — H  Aug  16  61 — Apr  n  62 
Mclntyre,  George — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Q  M  Sergt 
McKenna,  George  R — H  Aug  5  61 — Dis  May  26  62  G  C  M 
McKenzie,  Thomas — H  Apr  18  64 — Killed  on  picket  Oct  3  64  Luray 
McKinley,  John  S — B  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65  Corp  First  Sergt  Co  H 
McLaughlin,  Hugh — C  July  19  61 — Killed  in  action  at  Ashby's  Gap  July 

19  64 

McLaughlin,  Hugh — D  Feb  19  64 — June  27  65 
McManus,  John — D  July  16  61 — Aug  17  64 
McMillan,  Alexander — A  Aug  25  61 — Killed  in  action  at  Cunningham's 

Cross  Roads  July  5  63 

McMillan,  John — K  Aug  12  61 — Alar  14  63 
McNair,  Wm  W — Feb  27*65 — June  27  65  Chaplain 
McNamara,  John — D  Mar  19  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

McNaughton,  Dugald — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
McNaughton,  John — K  Aug  12  61 — Aug  16  64  Cap  at  Berryville  Aug 

22  63 
McNeil,   James   F — H   Aug  21   61 — Cap   at   Berryville   Oct   17  63    Par 

Died  at  Oswego  Sept  5  64 
McNitt,  Wm — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
McQuade,  Felix — A  Sept  16  64 — June  6  65 
McReynolds,  Andrew  T — June  15  61 — June  16  64  Colonel 
McReynolds,   B   Frank — H   Sept   18  62 — Jan  2  65   Second   Lieut  First 

Lieut  and  Regt'l  Com 

McSorley,  Hugh — A  July  30  61 — Aug  18  64 
Mead,  Charles — F  July  24  61 — Aug  18  62 


566  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Mead,  John  M — K  Aug  12  61 — Nov  12  61 

Mears,  Leonard — C  July  19  61 — Jan  18  62 

Meeker,  Benj— C  Sept  2  64— May  7  65 

Melville,  Thomas  H— M  Sept  4  61— May  27  63 

Melvin,  James — H  Aug  5  61 

Mempel,  August — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Sergt 

Menz,  Herman — L  Feb  27  64 — June  12  65  Wounded  and  Cap  at  Pied 
mont  June  5  64 

Menzel,  Ernest — L  Aug  22  61 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Par 
Died  at  Annapolis  Dec  28  64 

Menzer,  Hermann — I  Aug  I  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 
13  64  Corp  First  Sergt 

Merritt,  Andrew  J — B  July  19  61  June  27  65  Regt  Wagon  Master 

Merry,  Patrick — B  Mar  22  64 — June  27  65 

Messick,  Eugene — D  July  16  61 — June  7  62  Bugler 

Meyer,  Friederick — L  Apr  16  64 — June  27  65 

Meyer,  Gribbe  H — E  July  20  61 — Jan  28  63 

Meyer,  Henry — L  Aug  i  64 — June  5  65 

Meyer,  John — I  Aug  31  64 — June  6  65 

Meyer,  Joseph — E  Oct  18  65 — Nov  64  per  G  O 

Meyer,  Paul — G  Aug  22  61 — Aug  23  64  Sergt 

Meyersohn,  Frank  G — D  July  16  61 — Aug  31  63 

Meyres,  Mathew — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 

Michaels,  Robert  J — A  July  30  61 — Apr  14  65  Hospital  Wounded  in 
action  Sept  64 

Mickle,  Philo  D  Jr — D  July  16  61 — Res  May  25  63  Sergt  Second  Lieut 

Miller,  Andrew  H — M  Sept  9  61 — May  24  62 

Miller,  Francis  W — Feb  2  64 — Died  Apr  16  64 

Miller,  Frank  E — B  Dec  22  63 — June  27  65  Corporal 

Miller,  George — M  Aug  5  61 — Feb  6  62 

Miller,  Henry — D  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13 
64  Prisoner  at  Andersonville 

Miller,  Jacob — G  Died  in  General  Hospital  at  Martinsburg  Apr  12  64 

Miller,  Lewis — B  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Nov  12  61 

Miller,  Wm — M  Sept  4  61 — May  27  62 

Miller,  Wm  E— A  July  30  61 — Oct  2  61 

Millrose,  Orlando — B  Nov  19  61 — May  22  62 

Mills,  Charles — I  Aug  i  61 — May  27  62 

Mills,  George  W — K  Aug  12  61 — Nov  i  62  Corp  Sergt 

Miner,  George  H — M  Feb  18  64 — Killed  in  action  at  Winchester  Apr 

64 

Mitchel,  Eldridge  L — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Mitchel,  Robert  W— C  Sept  9  64— May  6  65 
Mitchell,  Henry — D  Aug  25  61 — Jan  21  62 
Mitchell,  Benj — M  Feb  25  64 — Died  Mar  19  64 
Mitz,  George — I  Aug  22  61 — Died  Dec  9  61 
Mold,  Christian — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64 
Molyneaux,  Edward — C  Sept  2  64 — May  7  65 
Monen,  Pierre — I  Mar  22  64 — June  27  65 

Monson,  Frank  A — B  Aug  16  61 — Aug  8  62  Lieut  in  Fifth  N  Y  Cav 
Mooney,  Hiram  C— A  July  30  61— June  27  65  Sergt 
Moore,  Francis — H  Mar  22  64 — Died  Nov  22  64 
Moore,  Henry — A  Dec  28  63 — Died  in  Hospital  Mar  17  65 
Moore,  Lawrence  W — A  Sept  5  64 — June  6  65 
Moore,  Thomas — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65 
Moore,  Wm  F— H  Aug  16  61— July  n  62 
Moorehead,  David  L— F  July  24  61— Mar  i  62 
Moorehouse,  John  H — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65 
Moorehouse,  Simon— F  July  24  61— Mar  i  62 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  567 

Moran,  Peter — M  Aug  29  61 — Died  Sept  2  62 

Moratz,  August — E  Aug  27  64 — June  6  65 

Morgan,  Warren — F  Jan  I  64 — Aug  5  65 

Moringer,  Joseph — L  Aug  22  61 — Feb  15  62  Bugler 

Morris,  Wm — C  Aug  28  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  First  Sergt. 

Morrison,  Lindsay — F  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 

Morse,  Christopher — M  Aug  28  61 — Feb  10  62 

Moser,  Jacob — G  July  20  61 — Jan  5  63 

Muder,  Max — L  Mar  9  64 — June  27  65 

Muehlbacher,  Francis — L  Aug  22  61 — Dec  i  62  Corp 

Mueller,  Ernest — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 

Mueller,  Herman — L  Sept  12  61 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Par 

Died  at  Annapolis  Apr  7  65 
Mulcahy,  Thomas — H  Apr  16  64 — June  27  65 
Muller,  Anton — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65 
Muller,  August — I  Feb  25  64 — June  27  65 
Muller,    Fridolin — I    Feb   24   64 — Cap    New    Market    May    13   64   Died 

Oct  2  64  Andersonville 

Muller,  Heinrich — G  July  20  61 — Oct  16  61 
Muller,  Henry — E  July  20  61 — July  13  62 

Muller,  John — E  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Cap  New  Market  May  13  64 
Mulley,  David — B  July  19  61 — Oct  i  61 
Mulligan,  Francis — H  Aug  16  61 — Oct  5  61 
Mulligan  Wm — H  Aug  16  61 — Killed  in  action  June  8  64 
Munger,  Harmon  H — K  Aug  29  61 — Dec  20  62 
Munn,  David — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65 
Munsch,  Bartholomaus — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  16  64 

Muralt,   Carl — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64  Cap  Winchester  June   15  63 
Murphy,  James — D  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 
Murphy,  John  R — H  Aug  5  61 — Aug  18  64 
Murphy  Thomas — B  Aug  16  61 — May  28  62 
Murphy,  Timothy — M  Sept  6  61 — June  27  65 
Murray,  Francis — M  Nov  10  64 — June  27  65 
Murray,   Martin — H  Aug  16  61 — May   13  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Murray,  Patrick — D  Aug  21  61 — Mar  20  64 

Murray,  Thomas — M  Aug  16  61 — Aug  28  63  Cap  Woodstock  Feb  20  63 
Murtha,  Patrick — K  Dec  30  63 — July  6  65 
Muther,    Randolph    I — D   July    16  61 — Aug  22  64   Cap   at   Winchester 

June  15  63 

Myer,  Adolph — E  July  20  61 — Aug  13  63  Bugler 
Myer.  John — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 
Myers,  DeWitt  R— D  Feb  23  64— June  27  65 
Myers,  Edward — C  July  19  61 — June  7  65  Corp 
Myers,  Henry — C  July  19  61 — Apr  13  62 

Nack,  Otto — L  Sept  i  64 — June  5  65 

Nagle,  Charles — E  Dec  16  64 — June  27  65 

Nagle,  Wilson — D  Dec  21  61 — Died  Aug  n  62 

Nash,  James — D  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Corp 

Naumann,  Francis — Apr  18  64 — Drowned  at  sea  Mar  31  65  by  burning 

of  U  S  Steamer  General  Lyon 
Navinski,  Simon — I  Aug  i  61 — Apr  21  62 

Nealy,  Wm— C  July  19  61— June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Neill,  Arthur — C  Jan  20  64 — June  27  65 
Nelson.  Pliny  F— B  Sept  i  61— Wounded  in  action  Sept  17  Died  Sept 

19  Saddler 

Nelson,  Roreback— Feb  2  64— Det  in  Hospital  at  Hart's  Island 
Nenumacher,  Joseph — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Corp 


568  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Nerling,  Peter— L  Mar  31  64— June  27  65  Corp 

Nevins,   Henry  N— K  Aug  12  61— Dec  31  62  Q  M   Sergt  Regtl   Com 

Sergt  Lieut  in  Seventh  Mich  Cav  Major  in  isth  N  Y  Cav 
Nevins,  Wm  S— K  Aug  12  61— Dec  25  61  Sergt  Q  M  Sergt  Lieut  in 

First  Mich  Eng  &  Mech 
New,  Edwin  A— A  Aug  16  61— June  27  65  Corp  Sergt  Regtl  Q   M 

Sergt  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 
Newhoff,  Frederick — F  July  21  64 — May  7  65 
Newman,  Robert — H  Aug  5  61 — Nov  8  61 
Newport,  Thomas — K  Dec  18  63 — June  27  65 
Newth,  John — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  First  Sergt  Second  Lieut  First 

Lieut 

Nichols,  Wm  H — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Nisser,  Henry — I  Aug  I  61 — Died  Dec  13  62  from  wound  received  on 

picket 
Nims,   Frederick  A — M  Aug  22  61 — Sept  30  64  Second   Lieut  First 

Lieut 

Noble,  Erastus  W — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Nolte,  Augustus — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  at  Piedmont 

June  5  64  Cap  in  Hospital  at  Staunton  Corp 
Noone,  Thomas — B  Feb  12  64 — Accidentally  shot  at  Bunker  Hill  Sept 

4  64 

North,  Augustus — F  July  24  61 — Feb  16  62 
Norton,  Anson  N — K  Aug  12  61 — Res  Sept  20  62  Captain 
Norton,  John  R — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Regtl  Com  Sergt  Second 

Lieut  Awarded  medal  of  Honor  by  Sec  of  War 
Nugent,  John — A  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 
Nussey,  Henry — H  Aug  10  61 — Jan  3  63 

Obhoff,  Peter— L  Aug  22  61— Killed  July  9  63 

O'Brien,  John  J — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Nov  12  61  Corp  Sergt 

First  Sergt  Co  F  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut  Captain 
O'Brien,  Michael— A  Aug  16  61— Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Died 

in  prison  at  Andersonville  Sept  28  64 
O'Brien,  Nicholas — H  May  22  64 — June  27  65 
O'Brien,  Patrick — D  Feb  20  64 — June  27  65 
O'Brien,  Peter — A  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Awarded  Medal  of  Honor 

by  Sec  of  War 
O'Brien,  Thomas— D  Aug  21  61— Feb  3  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

O'Brien,  Wm— A  Aug  16  61— Aug  22  64  Cap  at  Mt  Jackson  Nov  18  63 
O'Brien,  Wm — D  Aug  26  63 — June  27  65 
O'Connell,  Michael— K  Jan  6  64— June  27  65 
O'Connell,  Michael— A  Mar  26  64— Tr  to  Co  M 
O'Connor,  James  J — D  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Odell,  Dyckman— H  Aug  5  61— July  29  62  Q  M  Sergt  Co  A 
O'Donnell,  Patrick— D  July  16  61— June  27  65 
Ogden,  John  H— H  Nov  29  64— June  27  65 
Ogle,  Charles  H— A  July  30  61— Nov  24  62  Captain  Major 
Olbert,  Henry — G  July  20  61 — Killed  in  action  near  White  Post  June 

12  63  Corp  Sergt 

Olin,  Wm  W— F  Aug  27  64— June  6  65 
Ollussen,  Gustave— I  Aug  19  64— June  27  65 
O'Neil,  Michael— H  Aug  25  61— Dec  20  62 
O'Neil,  Patrick— M  Sept  2  61—  June  27  65  Corp 

O'Neil,  Paul— D  Aug  25  61— Mar  21  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  12  64 
O'Neill,  Eugene— H  Aug  16  61— June  27  65 
Onishenzen,  Charles— L  Apr  25  64— June  27  65 
Ooly,  John— G  July  20  61— June  21  62 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.          569 

Ordway,  Albert  H — A  Sept  26  64 — June  6  65 
Orthmann,  Ludwig — G  July  20  61 — Sept  i  62 
Ostrander,  Thomas  B — C  July  19  61 — Feb  25  65  Corp  Sergt  Com 

Sergt  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Otto,  August — E  Jan  25  64 — June  27  65  Bugler 
Otto,  Edward — E  July  20  61 — Jan  i  63 
Otto,  Frederick — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64 
Otto,  Gustav — L  Aug  22  61 — Apr  i  63  Captain 
Otto,  Hefly— E  Oct  16  64— Apr  5  65  Cap  at  Warrenton 
Owens,  Henry — D  Jan  i  64 — Sept  2  65 
Owens,  Terrance — B  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Cap  at  Moorefield 

Apr  28  63 

Pankrats,  Phister — G  Aug  6  64 — June  27  65 

Park,  Richard — A  Aug  21  64 — June  13  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

Parker,  Benj — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
Parker,  Wm — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Sergt 
Parks,  Wm  S — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  62 
Parlin,  Edward  H — B  July  19  61 — Dec  30  62  Cap  in  Hospital  Talleys- 

ville  June  30  62 
Passegger,  Franz — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  First  Lieut  Captain  Major 

Br  Lieut  Col  Br  Col  Wounded  at  Fisher's  Hill 
Patterson,  Samuel  B— M  Sept  2  61— Aug  16  62  Q  M  Sergt 
Patterton,  James — M  Aug  29  61 — Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Paul,  Ira — F  Aug  30  64 — June  6  65 
Paul,  Wm  H— F  Aug  15  64— June  6  65 
Pearl,  Thomas  E— B  July  19  61— June  27  65  Wounded  at  Martinsburg 

July  25  64  Bugler 

Peavey,  George  G— B  Aug  16  61— June  27  65  Wounded  near  Spring 
field  Oct  62  Wounded  near  White  Post  May  9  64  Sergt  Chief  of 

Scouts 
Peavey,    George   W— B    July    19   61— June    14  65    Regtl    Q    M    Sergt 

Second  Lieut  57  U  S  C  T 

Peck,  Charles — M  Aug  31  61 — June  15  63  Missing  in  action 
Peers,  Hiram— B  Nov  19  61— June  27  65  Cap  at  Woodstock  Dec  25  62 

Corp 

Perkowitz,  Leon — G  July  20  61 — Oct  16  61 
Perry,  Wm — F  July  24  61 — Oct  14  61 
Peterson,  Carl— G  July  20  61— Aug  23  64 
Peterson,   Charles — I  Aug  i  61 — Mar  20  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

13  63 

Peterson,  Andreas— L  Sept  12  61— Aug  22  64 
Peterson,  Charles  R— B  Aug  21  61— June  27  65  Wounded  at  Hancock 

June  16  63  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  In  prison  at  Anderson- 

ville  and  Florence  Corp  Sergt 
Peto,  Daniel — H  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 
Peto,  Joseph — H  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 
Pettis,  Frederick— D  July  16  61— Oct  4  61  50  N  Y  Eng 
Pettit,  Alfred  D — A  July  30  61 — Aug  22  64 
Pfaiffer,  Nicholas— L  Apr  i  64— Hospital  Nurse  at  Annapolis 
Phifer,  Michael— C  July  19  61— Mar  18  64  Corp  Sergt 
Phifer,  Peter — I  Feb  13  62 — June  13  63 
Phillips,  George— D  July  16  61— July  16  62 
Phillips,  Judson  S— K  Aug  29  61— Apr  3  62  Des 
Phillips,,  Wm  H  H— D  July  16  61— Nov  2  61 
Pilegard.  Rudolph — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65 
Pineus,  Joseph— E  July  20  61— Sept  4  62  Hospital 
Pinsel,  Charles— Oct  25  64— May  7  65  Hart's  Island 


570  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Pitman,  George — C  Aug  26  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Sergt 

Place,  Arthur  A— K  Mar  28  64— June  27  65 

Platt,  Eben  G — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Bugler 

Platt,  Wm— B  Sept  2  64— June  6  65 

Plattner,  Jacob — G  Sept  18  64 — June  6  65 

Poindexter,   George  S — F  Aug  21  61 — Nov  4  64  First  Sergt  Second 

Lieut 
Pomeroy,  Jerome  B — K  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Mar  22  65  and 

escaped  Apr  8  65 

Poole,  David  L — K  Feb  6  64 — June  27  65  Second  Lieut 
Pope,  Christian  C — A  Apr  I  64 — June  27  65 
Porter,  Patrick  H — M  Aug  28  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  Cap  at  Piedmont 

June  5  64 

Porteus,  James — B  Nov  19  61 — May  24  62  at  Gen  Hospital  Washington 
Porteus,  Wm  P — B  Aug  21  61 — Oct  27  62 
Posner,  Charles — A  July  30  61 — Dec  27  62 
Post,  Richard  A — C  July  19  61 — Aug  25  63 
Potter,  James — H  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Blacksmith 
Poulitzer,  Joseph — L  Sept  30  64 — June  5  65 
Power,  Samuel  C — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Farrier 
Powell,  Thomas  D — Jan  i  65 — June  27  65  Asst  Surgeon 
Powers,  James  F — D  Aug  25  61 — Mar  15  65  Cap  in  London  Co  July 

15  64 

Praefcke,  Curt — I  Aug  I  61 — Feb  24  62 
Pranden,  George — D  July  16  61 — Feb  15  62 
Prange,  John — I  Aug  i  61 — June  13  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 

Corp  Sergt 
Prendergast,  Richard  G — M  July  28  61 — Killed  in  action  at  Nineveh 

Nov  12  64  First  Lieut  Captain 

Price,  Wm  H — B  Sept  22  64 — June  6  65  Cap  Mar  15  65  at  Beaver  Dam 
Princell,  Charles— Oct  24  64— May  7  65 

Pross,  Philip — E  Aug  22  61 — Killed  in  action  June  15  63  Opequon  Creek 
Provost,  Joseph — A  Aug  16  61 — Nov  10  64 
Putmoe,  Moses — C  Sept  15  64 — June  27  65 

Quinn,  Daniel — M  Sept  7  64 — June  6  65 

Quinn,  John — C  July   19  61 — Tr   Sept   10  63  to  H   Sixteenth    (Ninth) 

V  R  C 

Quinn,  John — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Quinn,  Patrick — D  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 
Quinn,  Timothy — Jan  2  63 — Jan  4  65  Major 

Raczkiwicz,  John  C — H  Aug  5  61 — Aug  22  64  Bugler  Chief  Trumpeter 

Rahn,  John — E  Feb  27  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Gordonsville  Dec  64 

Rainsch,  Franz — F  Feb  18  62 — Apr  14  62 

Rainsberger,  Joseph  D — C  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Corp 

Randall,  Clark— Dec  31  63  Tr  Feb  8  64  to  I9th  N  Y  Cav 

Rathman,  Ernest — E  July  20  61 — Dec  27  62  Vet  Surgeon 

Rautsom,  Charles — I  Sept  3  64 — June  6  65 

Rawcliff,  Thomas — B  Sept  17  64 — June  6  65 

Redmen,  Charles — H  Aug  5  61 — Sept  25  62 

Reed,  Wm — B  Mar  29  64 — June  27  65  Cap  Beaver  Dam  Mar  15  65 

Reichhard,  Francis — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  22  64  Cap  June  27  62 

Reid,  James — K  Aug  12  61 — Cap  Berryville  Aug  19  63  Died  Mar  30  64 

Hospital 
Reider,  Gustave — E  Jan   15  64 — June  27  65   Prisoner  at  Andersonville 

May  13  64 

Reiling,  Herman — E  July  20  61-  -Aug  16  64 
Reilly,  Alex— M  Aug  28  61— Killed  Dec  25  61 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  571 

Reily,  Cornelius — H  Aug  16  61 — Jan  65  Cap  Winchester  June  15  63 

Reincke,  Francis — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  22  64  Corp 

Reincke,  Friedrich — I  Aug  i  61 — Apr  23  62 

Reinhard,  John — I  Aug  i  61 — Cap  May  13  61  at  New  Market 

Reinicke,  Herman — I  Aug  i  61 — May  29  62 

Relyae,  Elisha  B — C  Sept  4  61 — June  27  62 

Remers,  John — I  Aug  i  61 — Feb  15  62 

Resch,  Frederick — E  Aug  22  64 — May  22  65    Died  Oct  9  65  at  Hospital 

Reyan,  Wm — M  Jan  5  64 — Jan  21  65 

Reynolds,  Clark — B  Sept  22  64 — June  6  65 

Reynolds,  Clark  B — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65 

Reynolds,  Edward — H  Aug  5  61 — Aug  4  64 

Rhor,  Gotlieb— H  Sept  7  64 — June  6  65 

Richter,  Friedrich — G  July  20  61 — Oct  25  61 

Rickenberg,  John — I  Aug  22  61 — Apr  17  63 

Rickholdt,  Bernhardt — L  Aug  22  61 — June  15  63 

Ricklin,  Joseph — G  July  20  61 — Dec  27  62 

Riecks,  Frederick — L  Aug  18  64 — June  27  65 

Riegel,  Richard — L  Dec  9  63 — June  13  65  Sergt 

Righly,  Charles — Sept  13  61 — Mar  i  62  Chaplain 

Rihl,  Wm  H — C  July  19  61 — Killed  in  action  at  Greencastle  June  22  63 

Corp 

Rineke,  Wm — G  Aug  22  61 — June  20  63 
Ring,  Charles— Sept  22  64  Tr  Oct  2  64  to  I2th  N  Y  Cav 
Ritchie,  James — A  Aug  16  61 — Oct  n  62 
Roach,  James — B  Aug  31  64 — June  6  65  Cap  at  Jericho  Crossing  Mar 

14  65 

Roberts,  Ephraim — H  Aug  5  61 — Jan  n  62 

Robertson,  George — A  July  30  61 — Wounded  at  Sharpsburg  Sept  20  62 

Died  Oct  12  62  Corp  Sergt 

Robinson,  Charles — A  Aug  25  61 — Died  Dec  20  62  Hospital 
Robinson,  Oscair — B  Aug  25  61 — Mar  10  62 
Robinson,  Philo  C — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65 
Robinson,  Uriah — F  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 
Rodemann,  John — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63 

Rodman,  Benjamin — F  Mar  22  64 — June  27  65 

Roehrer,   John — M   Aug   i   61 — June  27  65   Hospital   Steward   Cap   at 

Mansfield  Apr  17  63 

Roehrs.  Frederick — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64  Com  Sergt 
Roehrson,  Edward — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Rohe,  Casper — I  Feb  8  62 — Nov  26  64  Corp  Sergt 
Roney,  Robert  W — F  Mar  29  64 — June  27  65 
Root,  James  M — F  July  24  61 — Sept  13  62 
Rorder,  Gustave — E  Feb  10  64 — Oct  26  65 
Rork,  Samuel  W — A  July  30  61 — June  30  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64  Sergt 

Rosacrauts,  Jacob — A  Oct  i  64 — June  6  65 
Rosenberg,  Max — June  15  61 — Sept  2  61 
Rosenberger,  Felix — I  Aug  5  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Jericho  Ford  Mar 

16  65 

Rosenblatt,  Matthew — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64 

Ross,   Andrew — M   Sept  3  61 — Cap  June  5  64  at   Piedmont     Died  in 

prison  at  Andersonville  Sept  25  64 
Rothomund,  Joseph — I  Aug  22  61 — Sept  17  62 
Rouse,  Minna — A  Sept  26  64 — June  6  65 
Roxborough,  John — C  July  23  64 — June  27  65 
Roxborough,  Wm — C  Aug  6  64 — June  27  65 
Ruh,  Haver — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Corp 


572  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Ruhkopf,  Ludwig— E  July  20  61— Cap  near  Mt  Jackson  Dec  20  63    Died 

in  prison  at  Andersonville  Aug  3  64 
Rumm,  Wm — I  Aug  i  61 — July  31  62 
Runnion,  Robert — D  July  16  61 — June  27  65  Com  Sergt 
Runyon,  Samuel — B  July  19  61 — Feb  24  62 
Russell,  John  R — B  Mar  5  64 — June  27  65 
Rutschmann,  Francis — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 
Rutter,  Thomas  H— M  Aug  28  61— Feb  24  62  Blacksmith 
Ryan,  Henry — M  Sept  10  61 — June  27  65 
Ryan,  James — F  Cap  at  Winchester  Apr  24  64 
Ryan,  Wm — M  Dec  21  63 — Feb  18  65  Hospital 
Ryan,  Wm  H— M  Sept  3  61— Oct  17  64  Corp 

Sail,  Louis — E  Mar  22  64 — Died  May  4  65  Hospital 

Sachs,  Henry — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Farrier 

Saling,  Frederick— K  Dec  i  63— Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Died 

Annapolis  Dec  21  64 

Salzbrunn,  Oscar — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  22  64 
Sanders,  George  S — D  July  16  61 — Nov  2  61 
Sanders,  Henry — C  Apr  20  64 — June  27  65 
Saunders,  Luther  B — D  Aug  16  61 — Nov  2  61 
Saur,   Andrew — K  Mar  28  64 — Died  June  27  64 
Savacool,   Edwin   F — K  Aug  29  61 — Wounded   at   Newtown   Nov   63 

Wounded  at   Sailor's   Creek   Apr  6  65     Died   in   Armory   Square 

Hospital   Washington  June   2  65    Sergt   Second   Lieut   First  Lieut 

Captain  Br  Major  Awarded  Medal  of  Honor  by  Sec  of  War 
Sayle,  James  J — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65 
Scalley,  Wm — D  Aug  21  61 — Aug  25  64 
Schaefer,  Caspar — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  16  64 
Schaeffer,   Charles — D  Aug  16  61 — Wounded  at   Piedmont  June   5  64 

Died  in  Hospital  at  Staimton  July  21  64 
Schaffer,  Joseph — G  May  20  64 — Cap  at  Moorefield  Aug  7  64  Died  in 

Hospital  Oct  13  64 

Schaffner,  Andrew — E  Apr  15  64 — June  27  65 
Schaupp,   Philip — E  Aug  22  61 — Feb  19  63 

Schauzel,  John — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Schefflin,  Frederick — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  Apr 

19  64 
Scheitle,  John — G  Aug  22  61 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64  Died  in 

Andersonville  Oct  4  64 

Scheller,   Charles — G  Oct   15  64 — June  27  65 
Schessle,  Charles — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 
Scheuer,  Charles  P — B  July  19  61 — Aug  20  64  Bugler 
Schimpf,  John — L  Feb  29  64 — June  27  65 
Schinninger,  Guido — L  Apr  2  62 — Aug  22  64 
Schlicht,  Louis — G  July  20  61 — Jan  16  63 

Schmidlin,  Joseph — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64  Cap  at  Berryville  June  5  63 
Schmidt,  Adolph — I  Aug  i  61 — Sept  17  62  Sergt  Q  M  Sergt  Second 

Lieut 

Schmidt,  Francis  F — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64  Com  Sergt 
Schmidt,  George — I  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 
Schmidt,  Henry — E  Mar  30  64 — June  27  65 
Schmidt,  Jacob— I  Aug  22  61— Feb  16  62 

Schmidt,  John — I  Aug  i  61 — Killed  in  action  near  Greencastle  July  5  63 
Schmidt,  John  F— I  Aug  i  61— Dec  20  62 
Schmidt,  Wm— E  Aug  3  64— June  27  65 
Schneider,  Conrad— E  July  20  6 1— June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  573 

Schneider,   Emmerich — L  Atig  22  61 — June  27  65   First  Sergt   Second 

Lieut  First  Lieut 

Schneider,  George — I  Aug  i  61 — Mar  20  64  Corp 
Schneider,  George — E  Jan  18  64 — June  27  65  Corp 
Schneider,  Herman — I  Aug  15  64 — June  27  65  Corp 
Scholl,  Wm — L  Jan  18  64 — June  13  65 
Schorn,  Ferdinand  H — I  Aug  i  61 — Died  Dec  20  61  Corp 
Schorr,  Christian — L  Aug  22  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63 

Schossback,  Friederich — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Schriber,  John  W— K  Mar  15  64— July  2  65  Frederick  Md 
Schroeder,  Ant  R — I  Feb  5  62 — Dec  4  62 
Schroettissair,  John  M — H  Aug  21  61 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 

Died  at  Andersonville  Oct  26  64 
Schuler,  Carl — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65 
Schultz,  Charles — Sept  22  64 — May  7  65 
Schultz,  Ferdinand — H  July  10  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Kernstown  Feb 

26  63 

Schultz,  Carl — I  Feb  10  62 — June  10  63 
Schultz,  Herman — E  July  20  61 — Mar  18  64 

Schultz,  John  H — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Schulz,   Henry — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64  Cap  near  Mt  Jackson  Dec 

20  63 

Schulz,  Julius — L  Aug  22  61 — Feb  3  62 
Schumacher,  Francis — E  Apr  25  64 — June  27  65 
Schuster,  Charles — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  23  64  Corp 
Schwartz,  Leopold — L  Aug  18  64 — June  27  65 
Schwarze,  Charles — I  Aug  i  61 — Dec  27  61 
Schwarzenberg,  John — II  Aug  16  61 — Feb  15  62 
Seaman,  John — G  Nov  25  64 — June  27  65 
See,  Durlin  P — B  Mar  15  64 — June  27  65  Corp 

See,  Henry— L  Mar  10  64— June  9  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  5  63 
See,  John — L  Mar  10  64 — June  27  65 
See,  Peter  F — B  Nov  19  61 — Feb  24  62 
Seery,  James — B  Mar  10  64 — June  27  65 

Seigel,  Henry — F  May  20  64 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Newtown  Feb  3  65 
Serviere,  Eugene— E  July  26  61— June  27  65  Cap  at  New  Market  June 

13  64 

Shankland,  James  C— A  July  30  61— Res  July  21  62  Regt'l  Q  M  Sergt 
Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 

Shannon,  Michael — A  July  30  61 — June  25  62  Corp 

Shears,  Judson  L — K  Aug  29  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June 
15  63 

Sheck,  Louis — D  Mar  i  64 — June  27  65  Corp 

Shepard,  John — M  Sept  12  64 — June  6  65 

Shepherd,  Charles  F — D  July  16  61 — Died  of  wounds  rec'd  at  Carter 
Hill  Nov  9  64  Bugler 

Shepherd,  John  H — M  Sept  8  64 — June  2  65 

Sheremer,  Valentine — L  Mar  29  64 — Sick  in  Hospital 

Shook,  Henry  A — A  Aug  25  61 — Nov  21  61 

Showaker,  Joseph — C  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 

Shultz,  Robert — C  July  19  61 — Cap  at  Winchester  June  14  63 — June  27  65 

Shultz,  Theodore — I  Jan  21  64 — June  27  65 

Sickles,  Charles — M  Sept  22  64 — June  6  65 

Simons,  Lambert  I — E  July  20  61 — Aug  27  64  First  Lieut  Captain 

Simpson,  John — K  Aug  12  61 — Aug  16  64 

Skerry,  Wm  H — B  July  16  61 — June  27  65 

Slee,  John — A  July  30  61 — Jan  8  63 

Sliter,  Wm  H— A— Jan  7  65 


574  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Slowe,  Martin — A  July  30  61 — Feb  3  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 

Smith,  Alexander — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65 

Smith,  Alexander — A  Mar  16  64 — June  27  65 

Smith,  Alfred— K  Nov  63 

Smith,  Benj  E — F  Mar  28  64 — June  27  65 

Smith,    George — A   Aug   16  61 — Aug    15   64   Accidentally   wounded   at 

Winchester  Jan  63 

Smith,    Henry   B — D   Aug  21    61 — May  20  62 
Smith,  J — Lost  on  U  S  steamer  General  Lyon  Mar  31  64 
Smith,  Jacob — M  Oct  I  64 — June  27  65 

Smith,  James  M — M  July  25  64 — July  24  65  McDougall  G  H  New  York 
Smith,  James  W — K  Aug  12  61 — June  6  62 
Smith,  Joseph  W — B  July  19  61 — July  6  65 
Smith,  Martin  C — K  Aug  12  61 — Aug  16  64 
Smith,   Thomas — C  Apr   18  64 — June  22  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

1.3  64 

Smooth,  Joseph — M   Sept  6  61 — June  27  65 
Sniffin,  Ward — H  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 
Sniffen,  Warren — H   Mar  21  64 — June  27  65 
Snyder,  George  W — C  July  19  61 — July  I  63 
Snyder,  John  J — C  Aug  26  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Soola,   Francis — B  Feb  10  62 — Cap  July  3  64  Died  in  Florence  Feb  8 

65 

Souther,  Henry  L — F  July  24  61 — Nov  15  61 

Spellman,  Patrick  J — H  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester 
June  14  63 

Spielmann,  John — L  Aug  22  61 — Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63  Cap  at 
New  Market  May  13  64  Died  at  Florence  Feb  20  65  Corp 

Spoor,  Joseph — M  Sept  3  61 — Died  Dec  n  61 

Sprague,  Samuel  C — D  July  16  61 — Mar  8  63  First  Lieut  Adjt  Dismissed 

Stafford,  Charles — F  July  24  61 — Feb  23  63 

Stanton,  Clark — B  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  at  Piedmont  June 
5  65  Wounded  Sept  27  64  Corp  Regt'l  Q  M  Sergt  Second  Lieut 
First  Lieut  Captain 

Staring,  Stephen  S — F  Aug  16  61 — May  24  62 

Stearns,  Joseph  K — H  Aug  5  61 — Res  Feb  6  65  Captain  Major 

Stears,  John  Henry — F  Mar  29  64 — June  27  65 

Stecher,  Paul — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 

Steel e,  John  G — K  Feb  9  64 — Aug  2  65 

Steger,  Frederich  H — I  Aug  I  61 — Cap  at  Winchester  June  13  63 

Steinmann,  Franz — G  May  9  64 — June  27  65 

Stephens,  Edward  R — B  July  19  61 — Nov  i  61  Corp  Lieut  and  Q  M 
in  another  regiment 

Stephens,  John  B — D  Dec  30  63 — June  27  65 

Stephens,  Leon — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65 

Stephens,  Peter — B  Mar  17  64 — May  15  65  Accidentally  Wounded  Cap 
at  Staunton  June  10  64 

Stevens,  John — G  Sept  23  64 — June  6  65 

Stevens,  Samuel — D  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Cap  on  picket  at  Kerns- 
town  Feb  26  63  Corp  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut  Captain 

Stevenson,  James  H — C  July  19  61 — Nov  4  64  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 
Captain 

Stewart,  George — F  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 

Stickle,  Luther — A  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Corp 

Stiene,  Henry — I  Aug  i  61 — Tr  to  22nd  V  R  C  Feb  i  64  Cap  at  Sav 
age's  Station  June  30  62 

Stilson,  John  W— K  Aug  29  61— Oct  i  61 

Stinson,   Samuel — M  Aug  28  61 — Feb  24  62 

Stokes,  Wm — C  July  19  61 — Aug  18  64  Corp 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  575 

Stoll,  George — L  Mar  i  64 — June  27  65 

Stone,  Austin  T — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 

Stone,  George — K  Aug  29  61— June  27  65  Corp 

Stone,  Henry  H — E  Sept  18  63 — June  28  65  Corp  Sergt  Prisoner  of  War 

Stone,  John  K — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65   Cap  at  Piedmont  June  5 

64  Escaped  July  9  64  Corp 
Storm,  George  E — B  Sept  20  64 — June  10  65 
Stosch,  Count  Ferdinand — I  Aug  i  61 — Res  Feb  25  63  Captain 
Strechen,  Henry — B  July  19  61 — Nov  29  61 
Strong,  Noah  R — D  Sept  i  64 — Aug  10  65 
Stroud,    Edward — H   Aug  5   61 — Aug  22  64   Cap   at  Winchester  June 

15  63 
Stuart.  Christian  A — B  Aug  21  61 — Jan  3  62  Corp  in  another  regiment 

Killed  at  Gettysburg 
Stuart,  John — B  Feb  26  62 — Apr  23  65  Cap  near  Berry ville  Oct  17  63 

Cap  Oct  64  and  escaped 
Stuckee,   Jacob — L  Oct   i   64 — June  27  65 
Stueckel,  Ernest — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 

Stullhut,  Ennis — D  Aug  16  61 — Aug  16  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Sulewski,  Dommik — E  July  20  61 — Aug  n  62 
Sullivan,  Cornelius — A  Aug  16  61 — May  3  64 
Sullivan,  John — H  Aug  9  61 — June  27  65 
Sullivan,  Lawrence — M  Aug  28  61 — Apr  25  62 
Sullivan,   Michael — D  Aug  16  61 — June  30  62 
Summerville,  Thomas  W — D  July  16  61 — Jan  28  63 
Suthermeister,   Gustav — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64  Cap  at  Greencastle 

July  3  63 

Sutter,  Michael — E  Aug  i  61 — Aug  15  63 
Sutton,  James  H — K  Aug  29  61 — Aug  16  64 
Suydam,  Henry — A  Aug  31  61 — Jan  16  65  Cap  at  New  Market  Aug  13 

64  Sergt  Com  Sergt  Batt  First  Lieut 
Swazze,   Warren — B   Aug  20  64 — June  6  65 
Sweet,  Amos — F  Aug  30  64 — June  6  65 

Sweet,  Martin  V — F  July  18  61 — Aug  22  64  Cap  June  22  64  Sergt 
Sweickhardt,  Michael — A  July  30  61 — May  4  62 
Switzer.  Frank — H  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65  Cap  Sept  12  64  Corp 
Sworn,  Theodore  W— D  Aug  16  61— Feb  15  62 

Tacy,  Win  D— C  July  19  61— Aug  18  64 

Tallicott,  John — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65 

Tallman,  Edson — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Bugler 

Taxter,  Isaac — Jan  3  62 — Jan  20  65  Vet  Surg 

Taylor,  Ethan  A— K  Aug  12  61— Dec  28  64  Cap  Mt  Jackson  Nov  16  63 

Taylor,  John  G — K  Feb  23  64 — June  27  65 

Taylor,  Wm — A  July  30  61 — Oct  2  61 

Teller,  Richard  M — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Corp 

Temple,  James  A — F  July  24  61 — Dec  18  61 

Thaler,  Anton — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64 

Thomas,  C — B  July  19  61 — June  i  63  Sergt 

Thomas,  Ignatz — E  July  20  61 — Aug  16  64 

Thomas,  Richard  P— F  July  24  61— Sept  13  62  First  Lieut  Bt  Adj 

Thompson,  Chris  C — A  Feb  22  64 — June  27  65 

Thompson,  David — H  Oct  n  64 — June  6  65 

Thompson,  Franz — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64  Cap  at  Kermstown  Feb 

2663 
Thompson,  George — H  Aug  16  61 — Cap  May  13  64  Died  Oct  20  64  at 

Millen  Ga 

Thompson,  Wm  I — C  July  19  61 — Aug  18  64  Corp 
Thompson,  Wm  R — B  Sept  23  64 — June  6  64 


576  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Thomson,  Clifford — B  July  19  61 — June  25  65  Regt  Q  M  Sergt  Second 
Lieut  First  Lieut  Major  on  staff  of  General  Pleasanton 

Thurston,  Daniel — K  Aug  12  61 — June  29  65  Corp  Sergt  Q  M  Sergt 
Reg  Com  Sergt 

Tighe,  James  D — M  Dec  3  64 — June  27  65 

Timm,  Henry — I  Aug  I  61 — Aug  28  64 

Tobin,  John — D  Aug  21  61 — Oct  15  64  Corp 

Todd,  Henry  B — B  July  19  61 — April  i  64  Cap  at  Accotink  Nov 
12  61  Capt 

Tone,  Peter — D  July  16  61 — Aug  16  64 

Tonery,  Joseph — A  Sept  5  64 — June  6  65  Sergt 

Toomey,  Thomas — M  Aug  29  61 — June  21  65  Corp  Sergt 

Topping,  Henry — H  Aug  5  61 — Nov  14  62 

Torbush,  Henry — H  Aug  5  61 — Oct  5  61 

Towers,  Thomas — H  Aug  16  61 — Dec  20  62 

Traches,  John— A  Dec  28  63— Dec  i  64 

Tracy,  Wm  S — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  in  action  Win 
chester 

Traut,  Wm — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Corp 

Traher,  John — M  Sept  9  61 — June  27  65  Corp 

Trowbridge,    Peter — B   Aug  21   61 — Aug  20  64  Cap  at  Accotink  Nov 

12  61 

True,  Edmond  W — B  July  19  61 — July  30  62  Q  M  Sergt 
Trump,  Charles — C  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Tryon,  Wm  B — D  Feb  27  64 — Mar  3  65  Died  at  Hospital 
Turner,  Henry — A  Aug  16  61 — Aug  15  64 
Turner,  James — A  Aug  16  61 — Died  Dec  7  61 
Turner,  James — M  Mar  7  64 — June  27  65 

Ubert,  Peter — I  Aug  26  64 — June  27  65 
Ulings,  Thomas — M  Sept  2  61 — Feb  24  62 
Ulricksen,  Axel — I  Aug  22  61 — Jan  3  62 

Valentine,  Napoleon — B  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Corp  ist  Sergt  2d  Lieut 

Valentine,  Wm — A  July  30  61 — June  27  65  Corp 

Van  Albert,  Charles — A  July  30  61 — Nov  21  61  Corp 

Van  Brunt,  George  F — A  Aug  25  61 — Dec  26  62  Corp 

Van  Cleef,  Robert— D  Mar  20  64— Cap  New  Market  May  13  64  Died 

Dec  10  64  Hospital 

Van  Lawn,  Albert  H — Jan  i  63 — July  13  65  Sergt 
Van  Loon,  Wm — C  Aug  16  64 — June  6  65 

Van  Saun,  Albert  H — A  July  30  61 — July  13  65  Corp  Sergt  ist  Lieut 
Van  Sickles,   George  W — A  Aug  21  61 — Cap  Winchester  June  15  63 

Died  Sept  7  64 

Van  Wort,  Richard — A  Aug  16  61 — June  27  65 

Veach,  Barton — B  Aug  22  64 — June  6  65  Cap  at  Beaver  Dam  Mar  15  65 
Vermilya,  Isaac  D — D  July  16  61 — Killed  in  action  at  Piedmont  June 

5  64  ist  Sergt  Bat  Adj  ist  Lieut 
Verner,  Charles — F  Sept  30  64 — June  6  65 
Verrinder,  Wm  Jr — H  Aug  21  61 — Feb  25  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

13  63  Cap  at  Mt  Jackson  Dec  20  63 
Verriger,  Benjamin — M  Dec  3  61 — Died  Dec  30  61 
Vincent,  John  H— B  Aug  16  61— Aug  20  64  Corp  Sergt 
Vittery,  Alex — E  Mar  10  64 — June  27  65 

Vogel,  Frederick— E  July  20  61 — June  15  63 
Vogel,  George — F  Aug  i  61 — May  12  62 
Vogt,  John — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  22  64 
Volner,  Carl — G  July  20  61 — Aug  23  64 
Vollotton,  Richard  R  W— A  Mar  9  64— June  27  65 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  577 

Von  Lint,  Wm — I  Sept  i  64 — June  6  65 

Von  Roeckritz,  Benno — L  Aug  22  61 — Dec  5  62  2d  Lieut  ist  Lieut 
Von  Schickfuss,  Frederick — E  July  20  61 — Apr  6  63  Capt  Lieut  Col 
Voorhies,  Alfred  H— H  Aug  5  61— Cap  May  13  64  Died  Aug  13  64  at 

Andersonville 
Voorhies,  Robert  C — H  Aug  5  61 — Killed  in  action  at  Upperville  May 

663 

Vosburg,  Charles  D — K  Aug  12  61 — Aug  16  64  Sergt 
Vosburgh,  Jacob — A  Jan  2  64 — Nov  12  64  2d  Lieut 

Wagner,  Karl — L  Aug  13  64 — June  27  65 

Wagner,  Louis — E  Feb  29  64 — Tr  Dec  23  64  to  looth  N  Y  Vol 

Wagner,  Waldemar — E  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 

Wainwright,  Benjamin — F  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65 

Wait,  Ferdinand  F — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Edinburg  May  16 

64  Sergt 

Walker,  Henry  B — C  Nov  14  64 — June  27  65 
Wall,  Wm — K  Aug  12  61 — June  17  65  Cap  at  Williamsport  July  10  63 

Sergt 

Wallace,  Robert  I — D  July  16  61 — Aug  16  64 
Waller,  George — E  Dec  21  64 — June  27  65 
Walsh,  James — H  Aug  5  61 — Cap  May  13  64  at  New  Market  Died  at 

Andersonville 

Walter,  Adam — L  Mar  31  64 — Died  Sept  22  64 
Walter,  Charles  I— D  July  16  61— Jan  20  62  Q  M  Sergt 
Walter,  Jos — G  July  20  61 — Died  of  wounds  Apr  19  65  ist  Sergt  Sergt- 

Major  2d  Lieut  ist  Lieut 
Walter,  Peter — I  Feb  29  64 — June  27  65 
Walton,  Richard — H  Jan  25  64 — June  27  65 
Walz,  Christian — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Kernstown  Feb  26  63 

Q  M  Sergt 

Ward,  Hugh — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Ward,  Wm — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Waring,  Thomas  C — B  Aug  21  61 — Aug  20  64 
Warner,  David  A — A  Feb  29  64 — June  27  65 
Warren,  Chas  N — K  Aug  29  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63 

Warren,  Morgan — F  Aug  15  61 — Aug  5  65 
Warren,  Porter — K  Aug  29  61 — Dec  20  62 
Waters,  Wm — A  Aug  25  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Watkins,  Erwin  C — K  Aug  12  61 — Oct  7  64  Sergt  2d  Lieut  ist  Lieut 

A  A  G 
WTatson,  George — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15 

63  Corp  Sergt 

Watts,  James — A  Oct  12  64 — June  20  65 
Wauch,  Valentine — E  Jan  21  64 — June  27  65 
Way,  Caleb — C  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Sergt 
Webb,  Edward  C — A  July  30  61 — Nov  7  61 
Webber,  Stephen  D — M  Sept  4  61 — Oct  22  61 
Weber,  Carl — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  2d  Lieut 
Weber,  John — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Sergt  Cap  New  Market  May 

13  64 
Weber,  John  W— E  Feb  28  64— Cap  New  Market  May  13  64— Died 

Oct  5  64  at  Andersonville 
Weber,  Louis — I  Aug  i  61 — Died  Apr  6  64 
Webster,  John — K  Mar  n  64 — June  27  65 
Weeks,    Samuel   M — B  July   19  61 — Dec  9  61    Sergt  Lieut  in  another 

regiment 
Wehler,  Edward— C  Sept  11  61— Died  Feb  6  62 


578  THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY. 

Wehn,  Louis — G  July  20  61 — Died  Feb  28  63 

Weigant,  Lorenz — I  Aug  i  61 — Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 — Died 

Oct  28  64  at  Florence 

Weigel,  Heinrich — G  July  20  61 — Dec  27  62 
Weimer,  Carl— Mar  29  64— Tr  Dec  i  64  to  68th  N  Y  Vol 
Weishaupt,  Jos — I  Aug  i  61 — Aug  22  64  Q  M  Sergt 
Weiss,  Augustus — L  Aug  22  61 — Aug  23  64  Cap  at  Winchester  June 

15  63 

Weissbacker,  Andrew — E  July  20  61 — Aug  21  64 
Weisz,  Frederick — E  June  20  61 — Nov  27  64  Cap  at  Winchester  Feb 

26  63  ist  Sergt  2d  Lieut 
Welby,  John— A  Oct  13  64— June  27  65 
Welch,  Abram — Jan  26  65 — June  27  65  Surgeon 
Welch,  Daniel — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65  Wounded  July  18  64 
Welch,  James — F  Oct  31  64 — June  27  65 
Welch,  John — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65 
Welch,  Martin  H — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Sergt 
Welton,  Chancey — K  Aug  12  61 — Dec  i  62 
Werle,  Adam — L  Sept  12  61 — Feb  23  62 
Wertche,  Wm — L  Sept  12  61 — Sept  i  63 
Wessinger,  Chas — L  Sept  12  61 — Wounded  in  action  at  Piedmont  Cap 

at  Piedmont  Died  Sept  30  64  at  Andersonville 
Westbrook,  Abraham — D  July  16  61 — June  26  65  Cap  at  New  Market 

May  13  64  Com  Sergt 
Westrater,  Wm — K  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Berryville  May  10 

63 
Wetzler,  Heinrich — G  July  20  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Woodstock  Feb 

26  63  Wounded  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Wheeler,  Montsier — K  Aug  29  61 — Jan  7  62 
White,  Albert  C — K  Aug  12  61 — Nov  12  61 
White,  Andrew — K  Jan  2  64 — June  27  65 
White,  Frederick — L  Feb  25  64 — Sept  4  64  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64 

White,  Henry  L— D  Aug  21  61— Feb  3  62 
White,  Josiah — K  Aug  12  61 — June  27  65 
White,  Philip— D  July  16  61— July  6  65 
White,  SafTord — K  Aug  12  61 — Dec  24  62    ' 
Whitnall,  Asa— F  July  24  61— Feb  15  62 
Whitney,  Theodore — A  Aug  21  61 — May  30  65  Cap  at  Smithfield  Aug 

21  63 

Wigman,  Wilhelm — E  Aug  16  64 — June  27  65 

Wilback,  Abraham — C  Dec  i  64 — June  27  65 

Wilber,  Simon — F  July  24  61 — Nov  14  61 

Wilder,  Jos — K  Aug  12  61 — Feb  25  62 

Wiley,  John — M  Feb  16  64 — June  27  65 

Wiley,  Moses — C  July  19  61 — Mar  12  63 

Williams,  Chas — L  Mar  18  64 — June  28  65  Cap  at  New  Market  May 

13  64  Escaped  at  Salisbury  Apr  12  65 
Williams,  Elmer— K  Jan  2  64— June  27  65 
Williams,  John— D  Feb  23  64— June  27  65 
Williams,  John — I  Aug  25  64 — June  16  65 
Williams,  Jos  H— H  Aug  5  61— June  27  65  Corp 
Williams,  Morgan  T — K  Aug  29  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Berryville  Aug 

22  63  Wounded  July  18  64  Sergt 

Williams,  Thomas — D  July  16  61 — May  16  65  Second  Lieut  First  Lieut 

Regt'l  Adj 

Williams,  Thomas— F  Aug  21  61— Oct  23  61 
Williamson,  Christian  F — F  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester 

June  15  63  Q  M  Sergt  Twice  wounded 


THE  LINCOLN  CAVALRY.  579 

Wilson,  Chas — B  July  19  61 — Died  Oct  22  61 

Wilson,  Henry  C  H — B  July  19  61 — June  27  65  Corp  Sergt  2d  Lieut 

Wilson,  John  R — A  July  30  61 — Died  Mar  21  62  in  Hospital 

Wilson,  Wm  J — M  Feb  25  64 — June  27  65 

Winans,  Wm — B  Aug  5  61 — Aug  4  64  Cap  at  Charlestown  Oct  17  63 

Wounded  in  action  July  25  64 
Witmann,  George — G  Feb  5  64 — June  27  65 
Wittmeyer,  Jacob — G  July  20  61 — Mar  18  64 
Witz,  Francis — I  Aug  I  61 — Aug  22  64 
Wohlfarth,  Dennis — G  Feb  26  64 — June  27  65  Wounded  Apr  3  65  at 

Petersburg 

Wolfring,  Max  J — E  Mar  15  64 — June  27  65  Corp 
Wolter,  Louis — L  Aug  10  61 — Dec  27  62 

Wood,  Collins — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 
Wood,  George — H  Aug  5  61 — June  27  65  Cap  at  Winchester  June  15  63 

Cap  at  New  Market  May  13  64 
Wood,  Jos — A  July  30  61 — Feb  23  63 
Wood,  Neville— F  July  24  61— Jan  8  62 
Woodruff,  Chas — F  July  24  61 — Died  Nov  22  64  at  Hospital  2d  Lieut 

ist  Lieut  Reg  Adj 

Woodward,  Edwin  B — F  Aug  21  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 
Wooley,  Edwin — M  Dec  14  63 — June  27  65 
Wright,  Dwight  N— D  Aug  16  61— June  27  65  Corp  Sergt 
Wright,  Edward — F  July  24  61 — June  27  65  Corp 
Wright,  Samuel  S — C  July  19  61 — June  27  65 
Wright,  Williston — B  May  2  64 — June  23  65  Cap  at  Frederick  City  July 

864 

Wuensch,  Augustus — L  Aug  22  61 — May  10  63  Corp 
Wyckoff,  Jesse  F — K  Aug  12  61 — Oct  17  64  Q  M  Sergt  2d  Lieut  ist 

Lieut 

Wyman,  J  F  Jr— F  Aug  21  61— June  27  65  Reg  Q  M  Sergt 
Wyneken,  Frederick — L  Mar  18  64 — Oct  20  64  2d  Lieut 
Wyteenback,  Henry — I  Aug  i  61 — June  27  65  Sergt 

Xelowski,  Henry — E  July  20  61 — May  28  62  2d  Lieut  ist  Sergt  Bat  Adj 

Yocum,  John — C  Sept  2  64 — May  7  65 
Yorks,  George — B  Sept  14  64 — June  6  65 

Young,  Chas — F  July  24  61 — Killed  in  action  Apr  13  63  at  Snicker's 
Ferry 

Zickwolf,  Conrad — G  Aug  22  61 — Aug  23  64 

Zinn,  Edward — E  July  20  61 — July  19  64 

Zobile,  Jacob — G  Sept  22  64 — June  6  65 

Zumloh,  Theodore — I  July  30  64 — June  27  65  Corp  Q  M  Sergt 


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